Performing An Operations Assessment

DOE-EM-STD-5505-96

5. PERFORMING AN OPERATIONS ASSESSMENT

5.1 Operations Assessment Overview. An operations assessment analyzes and evaluates

operations through the use of observations, interviews, and document reviews. The methodology

used for this type of assessment is characterized by the following general process:

Assessment planning

Observations of routine operations, maintenance, special activities, and activity drills

Interviews with operations, maintenance, training, and radiological control organization

personnel

Review of activity policies and procedures, logs, round/tour inspection sheets, radiological

control records, etc.

Comparing the information gathered by the techniques above with the requirements contained

in activity procedures, policies, and applicable DOE Directives to determine where deviations

from requirements appear to exist

Further investigation using additional observations, interviews, and document reviews to

clarify these deviations from requirements and determine if programmatic breakdowns or

widespread problems exist

The operations assessment process does not rely on formulating checklists to ensure that every

aspect of activity operations is evaluated against applicable requirements; rather, it provides a

methodology to sample a wide variety of operations to develop a picture of how safely and

efficiently the activity is being operated. A flow diagram that depicts the process of developing

findings and concerns is contained in Appendix B.

5.2 Assessment Preparation. Early and consistent communications between the Operations

Office and the activity to be assessed are vital to a successful assessment. The activity to be

assessed should designate a point of contact to coordinate with the Operations Office in

preparing for the assessment. A checklist that will aid the Operations Office when making