Nuclear Power Generation
Diablo Canyon Power Plant
Instructor Lesson Guide
Program: / General Employee Training
Course: / Protected Area Access / Course No.: / GPAA
Topic: / Generic / Topic No.: / GPAA100
Lesson: / Initial and Requal / Lesson No.: / GPAA100I/R
Approximate time for instruction: / 4

Instructor Materials

  1. Computer.

Student Materials

  1. Computer.
  2. This lesson as a handout if requested

Lesson References

  1. NEI 03-4 Rev 8
  2. NANTeL “Generic Plant Access Training” lesson plan.

Remarks

  1. This lesson is designed for web-based training.
  1. The information in this lesson will be evaluated by the use of a Web Based or Written Test (80% passing score)
  2. Revision bars not used as this lesson has been completely rewritten.
  3. The objectives are sequenced in the same order as NEI 03-04 recommended objectives
  4. Completed reviews of the individual sections are denoted on page two.

Author: / Bryn Jenkins\Mark Persky / Date: / 7/10/15
Reviewed By: / On File / Date:
Training Supervisor:
Approved By: / On file / Date:
Learning Services Director / Rev. 24

Generic Protected Area AccessGPAA100

Content Reviews

Introduction
/ The material meets the Nuclear Energy Institute’s generic objectives for training of all plant workers according to NEI 03-04 Revision 8, “Guideline for Plant Access Training.” Diablo Canyon supplements this generic training with additional site-specific training as required by NEI 03-04.
Examination
/ ALL exams (written or on CBT) are multiple-choice tests based on questions developed from all initial lesson objectives and these current issues.
ALL Contractors & Vendors employees taking this exam MUST be proctored. Permanent PG&E employees taking this exam DO NOT have to be proctored. Only qualified personnel can proctor students during examinations.
If you fail the exam, your access to the protected area will be suspended. You MUST receive additional training and score >80% on another exam.
Reviews of Content
/ Security
Reviewed By: / Jim Miller / Date:
Emergency Planning
Reviewed By: / Andy Warwick / Date:
Industrial Safety
Reviewed By: / John Beymer / Date:
Environmental Services
Reviewed By: / Tom Esser / Date:
Radiation Protection
Reviewed By: / Tim Irving / Date:
Quality Verification (QV)
Reviewed By: / Dan Stermer / Date:
Fire Safety
Approved By: / Dave Hampshire / Date:
Introduction
Lesson introduction
/ This lesson is the introductory lesson for people seeking access to Diablo Canyon Power Plant. In this lesson we will introduce you to the general organization of plant staff, major rules and procedures governing how we work together, and a brief overview of how a nuclear power plant works.
Upon completion, students should be able to state the function of major power plant sections, comply with company policies and procedures, and be familiar how the plant basically operates.
The effectiveness measure is 80% score or higher on an exam.
Objectives
Terminal objective
/ There are no terminal objectives for this lesson.
Enabling objectives
/ The following objectives apply to the lesson.
Number / Objective Text
Making Nuclear Power
1.1 / Describe the basic process used to produce electricity at a nuclear facility.
Introduction To Radiation Protection
2.1 / Define fission, radioactive material, radiation, contamination, and dose and state the difference between radioactive material, radiation and contamination.
2.2 / Define the term “background” radiation
2.3 / Contrast the average amount of radiation dose received by radiation workers and members of the general public.
2.4 / Identify potential long-term effects from being exposed to low levels of radiation.
2.5 / Contrast the risk of working in a nuclear facility to the risk in other industries.
Accessing The Plant
3.1 / State the purpose and function of the Security department.
3.2 / State individual responsibilities regarding complying with security rules.
3.3 / Identify areas of the station that are controlled by security including the owner controlled, area, protected area, and vital areas.
3.4 / State when Security personnel may perform physical searches.
3.5 / State where and when security photo identification badges will be worn and the actions to be taken if lost.
3.6 / Describe escorting responsibilities
3.7 / State the action(s) to be taken upon discovery of an unescorted visitor or an individual without a security photo identification badge
3.8 / Define Tailgating and explain why it is not allowed.
3.9 / State the purpose of the exit portal contamination monitor.
Working On Site
4.1 / State the function of each major plant section
4.2 / State individual responsibilities regarding the following policies:
Operating Plant Equipment
Working on plant equipment without authorization
Reporting problems for resolution, and
Complying with radiation protection rules
4.3 / Describe the nuclear safety culture
4.4 / State company policy regarding, procedural compliance, and the use of controlled documents.
4.5 / State individual responsibilities regarding station cleanliness and housekeeping
4.6 / Identify the steps involved with “self-checking”, and state when self-checking is required.
4.7 / Discuss individual industrial safety responsibilities regarding reporting problems, unsafe working conditions or industrial safety near-misses.
4.8 / Regarding Quality Assurance:
State the function of the Nuclear Quality Verification program
Identify individual responsibilities regarding QV
State the authority of QV personnel, and
State the purpose of audits and surveillances
4.9 / Regarding Quality Control:
State the function of the Nuclear Quality Control program
Identify individual responsibilities regarding QC
State the authority of QC personnel, and
State the company policy on harassment of QV/QC personnel.
4.10 / State individual roles and responsibilities regarding the reporting of potential problems including potential items of non-compliance.
4.11 / Explain the purpose of the Employee Concerns Program.
4.12 / Explain how to report nuclear safety concerns to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
4.13 / State the purposes of the emergency plan and the need for accountability during an emergency.
4.14 / State the Classifications of station emergencies
4.15 / State the policy concerning the release of information to the public and news media regarding an emergency.
4.16 / State the purpose of personal dosimetry
4.17 / State the colors and symbols used on radiological postings and the methods used to identify radiological areas.
4.18 / State the actions to be taken if a radiological area or radioactive material is encountered.
4.19 / Explain:
The consequences of willful misconduct
How to report conditions of vandalism or tampering
4.20 / Identify the policy for control and handling of Safeguards information.
Managing Industrial Safety
5.1 / Discuss adherence to safety instructions
5.2 / Discuss individual responsibilities of safety postings, barriers, tags and signs
5.3 / Administration of First Aid (if qualified)
5.4 / Discuss the use of personal protective equipment
5.5 / Discuss the use of plant safety equipment
5.6 / Recognize potential health hazards and methods for reducing the risks involved with the following:
  • Use of Asbestos on some plant components
  • Electrical equipment
  • Steam leaks
  • Confine Spaces
  • Trip, slip and fall hazards
  • Heat Stress
  • Compressed gases
  • Moving/rotating equipment
  • High noise areas
  • Falling hazards
  • Eye hazards
  • Hazardous chemicals

5.7 / State where information may be obtained explaining the risk, hazards and handling associated with a chemical or toxic substance.
5.8 / State employees’ responsibility regarding fire barriers
5.9 / State actions an individual is required to take upon discovery of a fire
5.10 / Discuss fire prevention measures including fire loading, handling of flammable material and hot work.
5.11 / State examples of types of hot work requiring a permit
GPAA100.DOC / Page 1 of 43 / Rev. 24

Generic Protected Area AccessGPAA100

Making Nuclear Power

Objective 1
/ Describe the basic process used to produce electricity at a nuclear facility.
Introduction
/ To understand this process, we need to look at how nuclear energy is converted to electricity.
Need to Know
/ Diablo Canyon consists of two separate nuclear power generating units. They are simply called unit 1 and unit 2. Both units are pressurized water reactors. The purpose of a pressurized water reactor (nuclear reactor) is to produce heat. This heat is converted into electricity which is sold to PG&E customers.
Energy is produced from the nuclear fission process that takes place in the reactor. When a uranium atom undergoes fission (splits into two atoms), energy is released in the form of heat. The heat is used to boil water and produce steam. This steam is used to turn a turbine just like in a coal, gas, or oil power plant. The turbine is connected to the generator which produces the electricity PG&E supplies to customers.
Drawing: PWR
/ The drawing below shows a pressurized water reactor like Diablo Canyon.

Nice to Know
/ Sea water cooling is used to condense turbine exhaust steam forming condensate. The condensate is then returned to the steam generator to redo the cycle.

INTRODUCTION TO RADIATION PROTECTION

Lesson Introduction
/ Nuclear power creates electricity from nuclear fission. In this section, you will learn where radiation comes from and how it is measured. You will also learn about the health effects of radiation and why it must be carefully controlled.
Objective 2.1
/ Define fission, radioactive material, radiation, contamination, and dose and state the difference between radioactive material, radiation and contamination.
Nuclear Fission
/ A nuclear power plant produces electricity from the heat that nuclear fission creates. During fission, a neutron is absorbed by a uranium atom to make it split (fission). Neutrons are small particles inside the nucleus of an atom.
When the atom splits (fissions), it releases energy (heat) along with other neutrons. These neutrons are absorbed by other uranium atoms, creating a chain reaction that continues the fission process.
Releasing Radiation
/ When an atom splits (fissions) it creates unique materials and conditions that must be carefully managed.
Some energy that is released when an atom splits is called radiation. The process of releasing radiation is called radioactive decay. This can occur in naturally occurring atoms such as radium or radon or in the controlled setting of a nuclear reactor, as you just learned. Anything that contains decaying atoms and releases radiation is called radioactive material

Continued on next page

Introduction to Radiation Protection, Continued

Measuring Radiation
/ Radiation is measured by the amount of energy released from radioactive material.
When the body or any specific organ is exposed to radiation, the amount of radiation received is called dose. This is measured in units called rem or millirem (1/1000 rem).
Contamination
/ In a power plant, radioactive material needs to be carefully controlled. Contamination occurs when radioactive material gets outside the place it is intended to be. When this happens, the radiation it releases is no longer controlled. This can result in dose that is not tracked, which can be a health hazard.
Remember that contamination is radioactive material; radiation is the energy that the material releases."

In Common Terms

/ Remember when you had your last cookout or barbecue?
The radiation that cooked your food on the grill was in the form of heat given off from the charcoal. You could feel the heat; in fact you probably used your sense of touch to see if the grill was ready.
Let's suppose that one of the kids hits the charcoal grill with a ball, and spills charcoal everywhere. Now there is charcoal all over the ground where it's not supposed to be. The ground is now contaminated with charcoal.
Your food cooks on the barbecue, because of the amount of heat energy absorbed by the food. That is the dose.

Relating the Terms

/ Radioactive material and contamination both give off radiation. The difference between radioactive material and contamination is that contamination is radioactive material in an undesirable place.
The difference between radiation and radioactive material (or contamination) is that radiation is the energy given off from radioactive material or contamination.

Practice / Feedback

/ The term that defines the amount of radiation absorbed in the body is called:
A. Contamination
B. Radioactive materials
C. Dirt
D. Dose (Answer)
Introduction to Radiation Protection, Continued

Objective 2.2

/ Define “background”.

Background Radiation Dose

/ Background radiation is radiation everyone receives from natural and man-made sources. Natural sources, such as the sun and some types of rocks, and man-made sources such as medical treatments and x rays, contribute much more dose than occupational dose.
According to the National Council on Radiation Protection, background sources of radiation account for an average annual dose of 620 millirem to people living in the U.S.

Practice / Feedback

/ The radiation that comes from natural sources around us is called
A. Backscatter
B. Backblast
C. Background (Answer)
D. Blackbody

Objective 2.3

/ Contrast the average amount of radiation dose received by radiation workers and members of the general public.

Occupational Radiation Dose

/ As a radiation worker, you will receive “occupational dose” from radiation on the job. This dose will be much less than what you receive from background radiation. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the average occupational dose received by a radiation worker at a nuclear power plant in the U.S. is 180 mrem (less than one third the amount of dose received from background radiation). Background dose 620 mrem plus Radiation Worker Occupational Dose 180 mrem equals 800 mrem.
Radiation workers will receive special equipment to monitor their dose. Many workers at a nuclear plant are not considered radiation workers. Federal law limits their occupational dose to the same as members of the general public, which is 100 mrem per year.

Continued on next page

Introduction to Radiation Protection, Continued

Objective 2.4

/ Identify potential long-term effects from being exposed to low levels of radiation.

Radiation Effects

/ Research shows that exposure to certain levels of radiation increases the risk of contracting cancer and other illnesses. To be safe, we assume that long-term exposure to even low levels of radiation will slightly increase health risks.
This is why radiation dose is kept as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) in the plant.

Heath Risks

/ The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) calculates that 1000 mrem of occupational dose per year (which is more than three times the average amount received by radiation workers) increases the risk of contracting fatal cancer by .04 percent.
For example, if a group of 10,000 people could normally expect to develop 2500 cases of fatal cancer, exposing each person to 1000 mrem of occupational dose each year would increase that number to 2504

Age Sensitivity

/ In general, younger people are more sensitive to the effects of radiation. Their cells are developing more rapidly, and radiation disrupts that process. Therefore, unborn children are at the greatest risk because they are most sensitive to the effects of radiation. If you desire further information concerning pre-natal exposure, please contact the RP Manager.

Practice / Feedback3

/ In General,______to the effects of radiation.
a) Older people are more sensitive
b) Younger people are more sensitive (Answer)
c) Men are more sensitive
d) Women are more sensitive

Continued on next page

Introduction to Radiation Protection,Continued

Objective 2.5

/ Contrast the risk of working in a nuclear facility to the risk in other industries.

The delayed effects from radiation exposure, such as contracting cancer, are not a certainty. These increased risks are described by how much they reduce life expectancy for the average person. The chart identifies the average number of days lost based on the various health risks in each category.

Comparison of Health Risks

/

Estimated Loss of Life Expectancy Due to Various Causes

Source: Adapted from Cohen, B. and Lee, I. “A Catalog of Risks.” Health Physics, 36, June, 1979, 707–722
Cause / Days / Cause / Days
Cigarette smoking (male) / 2250 / Job with radiation exposure / 40
Heart disease / 2100 / Falls / 39
Being 30% overweight / 1300 / Accidents to Pedestrians / 37
Being a coal miner / 1100 / Safest job (accidents) / 30
Being 20% Overweight / 900 / Fire (burns) / 27
Average job (accidents) / 74 / Generation of energy / 24

Practice / Feedback 2

/ The average number of days of life lost to occupational exposure is?
a) 2250
b) 40(Answer)
c) 24
d) 900
ANS: b

Accessing the Plant

Objective 3.1

/ State the purpose and function of the Security department.

Security

/ When you approach the plant, the first group you will encounter is Security. Security officers protect the plant and its workers, and protect against nuclear sabotage. Their responsibilities include the following:
  • Control Protected and Vital Area access
  • Issue access badges
  • Control security doors within the plant

Examples

/ Examples of Security roles include:
Protecting plant personnel from physical harm should a terrorist attack occur, or if an employee becomes violent.
Preventing radiological sabotage by intruders (or employees) that would endanger the employees, plant or the public.
Even though we do not have weapons grade material on site, i.e.bomb material, we are required to prevent the theft of nuclear material to protect the safety of the public.

Practice / Feedback

/

Which of the following is NOT one of the 3 purposes of the DCPP security program?

a.) Protect plant personnel

b.) Prevent sabotage

c.) Identifiy drug & alcohol abusers (Answer)

d.) Guard against theft of nuclear material

Objective 3.2

/ State individual responsibilities regarding complying with security rules.

Individual Responsibilities

/ Everyone on site shall follow all written and verbal Security guidance.

Continued on next page

Accessing the Plant, Continued

Objective 3.3

/ Identify areas of the station that are controlled by security including the owner controlled, area, protected area, and vital areas.

Security Areas

/ Each security area at DCPP requires a specific security clearance or access level for entry. There are three types of security areas at DCPP.
  1. Owner Controlled: Per Security commitments, the Owner Controlled Area is defined as the roads within the “site boundary” as described in the Updated FSAR. The owner controlled area can be thought of as all the PG&E property around the plant, starting at the Avila Beach gate.
  1. Protected Area: There are three separate Protected Areas (PA). The main plant PA includes the two containments, the auxiliary, fuel handling, and turbine buildings, the administration building, security building and warehouse up on the hill. Another PA encompasses the lower elevations of the intake structure down by the ocean, where the plant’s seawater pumps are located. The third is the dry cask storage area. A keycard, which signifies the proper clearance, is required for entry into a PA.
  2. Vital Areas: Specific areas located within the PA that contain equipment and systems which are important to the safe operation or shutdown of the plant. The proper access level on the keycard is required for entry.

Map