Operations assessments conducted in accordance with a documented schedule

DOE-EM-STD-5505-96

operations, operations-related radiological control, activity drills, and operations-related training

and qualification. A partial operations assessment shall cover one or more applicable elements of

conduct of operations, operations-related radiological control, activity drills, or operations-related

training and qualification. Since other DOE Directives require assessments of areas besides

conduct of operations, operations assessments may be performed in conjunction with these other

assessments.

Field Element managers shall maintain a documented operations assessment schedule which

covers a two year period. Field Element managers should update the schedules semiannually and

provide copies of the schedules to DOE Headquarters Program Managers and the Office of Safety

and Health (EM-4).

The sample operations assessment schedule in Appendix A illustrates an acceptable approach to

scheduling operations assessments at the required periodicity. Scheduling operations assessments

at the wastewater treatment plant and hazardous waste storage area is rather straightforward

because operations always take place at the same physical location. However, scheduling

operations assessments of the decontamination & decommissioning activity and pilot well

monitoring activity are more challenging because these operations may occur at various locations

across the site over the course of a year. By treating the decontamination & decommissioning

activity or the pilot well monitoring activity as a discrete operational process that fulfills a

programmatic purpose, operations assessments may be scheduled on the respective activities

regardless of the location of their operations. In this manner, the intent of the operations

assessment program will be fulfilled.

Field Element managers shall also ensure that the assessment teams are conducting operations

assessments through the use of observations, interviews, and document reviews. Sections 5 and 6

describe how to perform an operations assessment and provide guidelines for assessing the

elements of conduct of operations, operations-related radiological control, drills, and operations-