Throughout this process, many federal, state and regional authorities participated to ensure the comprehensive standards were met. Triple-safeguard features prevent the release of radiation. Steel tubes or rods which contain the fuel pellets act as the first barrier. Next, the fuel rods are contained in the reactor vessel with 8-inch thick steel walls. About 100 employees are dedicated to nuclear training.
New employees go through courses in nuclear safety that includes written exams.
All personnel receive annual retraining classes, and workers with specialized jobs receive training in areas ranging from chemical, electrical and hazardous materials handling to general industrial safety. Every two years, extensive physical exams as well as security and psychological checks occur. Every five weeks all operators spend four days in re-training which includes classroom work and control room simulations. Because the plant is run so safely, these simulations are necessary to keep skills honed for operational irregularities which operators do not normally encounter. The NRC oversees compliance with regulations governing operational and occupational safety with resident NRC inspectors every day.