�Nuclear Plant Safety Culture

Last year the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station outside Toledo, OH, was shut down upon identification of a fist-sized hole in the reactor vessel head caused by corrosion. The problem, along with a spotty history of safety performance, has been attributed by investigators to a "defective safety culture" at the plant.

"Safety culture means the collection of characteristics and attitudes found in nuclear power plant owners and employees who put a high priority on safety."

Science Editor Michael Woods of the Toledo Blade reports that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards has taken notice and formed a subcommittee to review the subject of safety culture and recommend possible actions.

Jack Grobe, the NRC head of a special panel overseeing improvements at Davis-Besse and quite close to the problems, concurs, stating:

"The principle causes of Davis-Besse were cultural."

David Collins, an engineering analyst at the Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Connecticut, noted that safety could be compromised by overbearing executives and is quoted as saying:

"We need some mechanism for NRC to remove toxic leadership."

Mr. Collins and others, however, expressed reservations about adopting extensive safety culture regulations.

"Existing rules, they said, could get the same result, if fully enforced by the NRC.(Italics by Interested-Participant.)

This whole episode in the nuclear industry seems to smell of bonehead management at Davis-Besse and at the NRC. Maybe they should be considered potential future selectees for the Official Bonehead List.