A Return To 'Safety First' For Michigan Nuclear Plant

After five unplanned shutdowns in 2011?

it took five before action.

Five unplanned shutdowns does seem like four too many before the feds should take action.

The article is a little short on details however.

It is interesting to note the one incident that was related in the article. Apparently, everything at the plant is suppose to be done by procedure. One person didn't follow one procedure and half of the indicators in the control room lost power as a result.

The thing I would want to look at is the system design. A good design takes into account that procedures will not always be followed, could result in problems and provides alternate means of maintaining control.

If the design of this facility does not provide for maintaining control during incidents, then the design should be corrected. And if this design is used in other facilities (as intimated in the article) then they should be investigated as well.

There is a lack of information,

As far as following procedure

.

I agree with you on your link.

Too often people follow a procedure, knowingly cause a problem and then blame the procedure.

Following a procedure should never be a substitute for knowing how to do something. To get ahead in industry we don't need more Button Pushing Operators. We do need to follow procedures, but when a procedure is wrong then the procedure must be corrected.

Following a procedure should never be a substitute for knowing how to do something. To get ahead in industry we don't need more Button Pushing Operators. We do need to follow procedures, but when a procedure is wrong then the procedure must be corrected.

Very good points and right on with the "button pushing". I can't speak for every plant out there, but I have over a decade of operational experience in this area and can add this. The procedures have been looked at and scrutinized by thousands of eyes. The likelihood of a wrong procedure existing is very small. The manuals I used all had "initial conditions" (ie a list of conditions the plant must be in to start the procedure). It is up to everyone from the operator to the man giving the order to start the procedure to check that those initial conditions are met and if not, then to not start the procedure, put the plant in the right initial conditions (by following approved procedures), then do the procedure. In my experience, when people have had troubles with a procedure, it is generally because of this.