Discussion cont'd - s1037cn10017

DOE-STD-1037-93

not under the control of operations personnel; therefore, it constituted a unique process.

If the process support personnel (technicians) had coordinated their activities with the

operations supervisor, the operations personnel would have prepared for the alarm and

avoided the emergency response.

Note that in each of these events, the persons involved were properly trained and qualified to

perform their own job responsibilities. What they lacked was knowledge of the effects their

activities would have on other processes. An integrated knowledge of the interfacing unique

processes, and effective communication based on that knowledge, could have prevented each

problem. Integrated knowledge may include:

Fundamentals of the applicable physical sciences (i.e., chemistry, electricity, physics,

thermodynamics, etc.) involved in interfacing unique processes

Purpose and fundamentals of system design for interfacing unique processes

Normal, and anticipated abnormal, operating characteristics of interfacing unique processes.

Facilities should ensure that personnel at all levels have sufficient knowledge of interfacing or

unique processes to ensure safety and efficiency in the working environment. Training, job

experience, and direct communication with process support personnel are all methods to provide

this integrated knowledge to operators. Facilities should encourage personnel to be technically

inquisitive, to detect, understand, and anticipate problems while monitoring process parameters,

and to communicate effectively with process support personnel so appropriate and timely

corrective action can be initiated.