Role of training in maintaining equipment qualification

During the last decade, U.S. nuclear utilities have expended over half a billion dollars in establishing equipment qualification (EQ); i.e., demonstrating that all safety-related equipment can perform its function during design basis accidents and earthquakes, even if degraded by years of aging during plant operation. Focus is now on maintaining EQ-preserving the qualified configuration of installed equipment, performing special EQ maintenance (including replacement of parts, sometimes with “dedicated” commercial grade items), and preserving an auditable trail of EQ documentation. Because of the high turnover rate in personnel involved in EQ, utilities are examining their EQ staffing and training needs to guard against a possible gradual erosion of expertise in and attention to EQ. This paper gives a brief overview of EQ, establishes the need for comprehensive training on maintaining EQ, and presents the EQ knowledge requirements for four sectors of personnel (maintenance, engineering, QA, and management). Finally, the essential elements of training course materials to meet these needs are identified.