Response to Indications

DOE-STD-1041-93

within the same block. Correction fluid and other opaque agents should not be used to

make corrections.

Personnel should be knowledgeable of equipment parameters. They should know where

to find the parameter indicating devices (e.g., pressure gauge, thermometer, voltage meter),

the scale of the indicating devices, and their normal values. Personnel should understand

the significance of each value recorded on the round sheet, whether recorded by him/her or

by a previous person. This is particularly true of out-of-specification readings.

The round sheet data should be reviewed by a supervisor each shift to help identify trends

or abnormal readings and to verify that the data has been properly recorded. This will

require the supervisors be at least as knowledgeable of the subordinate work stations as the

assigned personnel. Supervisors should periodically monitor assigned personnel performing

rounds to ensure that comprehensive tours continue to be conducted.

4.1.5

Response to Indications

Personnel should believe instrument indications (i.e., treat them as accurate) unless proven

otherwise. In situations of doubt, personnel must be instructed to place facility, personnel,

and environmental safety above facility production. Ignoring an unusual reading because

the person believes an instrument is faulty can cause abnormal conditions to go undetected.

Personnel should use other indications, if possible, to confirm unusual readings. Redundant

indicators, backup indications, or other process parameters (e.g., a flow gauge indicating

proper flow is a process parameter validating that a pump is energized, if the pump's "on"

light is not illuminated) could be used to verify an unusual reading. Personnel should also

be alert for trends or a deviation from expected trends (e.g., cooling water temperatures

rising with no increase in heat load, water flow not increasing, as expected, after starting

a pump). Prompt action should be taken to investigate the cause of abnormal or unusual

indications to allow timely corrective action. When malfunctioning or inaccurate

instruments are discovered, they should be appropriately identified to prevent subsequent

confusion. Appropriate personnel should be notified to effect repairs.

4.1.6

Load Changes

The appropriate supervisor, control area lead operator, or manager should approve all load,

power, or process rate changes. Since this person is accountable for operation of the

process, his/her guidance must be used to safely control the process. The following are

example cases of load and process rate changes:

Changing chemical reaction rates for an experiment

Changing power level of a power generating station (e.g., coal, nuclear, oil)

Changing output power of an electrical generator