Crew Teamwork, Operating Practices, and Diagnostic Skills

DOE-STD-1041-93

If a dedicated position is used, the most effective STAs are those who routinely work on shift

with a designated crew. This ensures that the STA is fully informed of plant status should an

emergency occur. Also, experience has shown a greater degree of teamwork and credibility if the

STA is an integral member of the crew. If an on-call STA is used, the STA should participate in

sufficient shift activities (such as crew turnovers and plant tours) to maintain awareness of plant

status and evolutions in progress. This helps ensure that this individual can be an effective

member of the response team upon arrival in the control room.

When a combined position is used, the STA function is normally combined with the senior

licensed individual functioning as the shift manager or the work control room supervisor. For the

combined STA/shift manager approach, it is essential that the individual maintains a broad

perspective of overall plant response. If the combined STA/work control supervisor approach is

used, the individual must monitor critical safety parameters to provide an advisory input to the

crew. This individual cannot be drawn into other duties or tasks that detract from this

monitoring.

4. Crew Teamwork, Operating Practices, and Diagnostic Skills

Teamwork, operating practices, and diagnostic skills are essential for successful completion of the

many complex tasks operating crews perform. Operations personnel work as a team to effectively

manage stationwide resources such as personnel, information, and time. Good teamwork is

strongly dependent on the relationship of the shift manager and other operating crew members to

plant management, as well as on the understanding of and attitude toward the standards and

expectations set by station management. Teamwork skills include the following:

communicating, including open communication among team members

providing leadership

problem-solving and decision-making

team-building

constructively challenging the actions and decisions of other team members

resolving conflict

fostering questioning attitudes

cross-checking and monitoring

prioritizing work

avoiding hasty decisions and hurried actions

To successfully operate the plant, the operating crew integrates technical knowledge and skills by

systematically applying necessary diagnostics. Operating personnel are thoroughly trained and

evaluated on the plant's operational limits and margins, why the limits and margins exist, and how

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