Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: f90c4bd2-d0e9-4015-81fc-f2cd85a8f58b
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Guidance to Operators at the Controls and to Senior Operators in the Control Room of a Nuclear Power Unit (Rev. 3)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0802/ML080220459.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.114
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
enior operator in the control room to ensure that (1) an individual is available who can provide the oversight function of the supervisor so that the probability of correctly detecting abnormal events early enough to mitigate potential adverse consequences is increased, (2) the senior operator in the control room is aware of plant conditions before DG-1194, Page 3 and resulting from an abnormal event so that the senior operator’s extra experience, training, and knowledge can be used to act promptly to mitigate that event, and (3) the operator at the controls is able to direct attention to performing the immediate actions necessary to mitigate an event, rather than having to brief the senior operator about the background of that event, if the senior operator had been absent from the control room. C. REGULATORY POSITION 1. Operator at the Controls 1.1 The operator at the controls of a nuclear power unit should have an unobstructed view of and access to the operational control panels, including instrumentation displays and alarms, to be able to initiate prompt corrective action when necessary on receipt of any indication (instrument response or alarm) of a changing condition. Operational control panels are defined as control panels that enable the operator at the controls to perform required manual safety functions and equipment surveillance and to monitor plant conditions under normal and accident conditions. 1.2 The operator at the controls should not normally leave the area where continuous attention, including visual surveillance of annunciators and instrumentation, can be given to reactor operating conditions and where the operator has access to the reactor controls. For example, the operator should not routinely enter areas behind control panels where plant performance cannot be monitored. If the control room design is such that back panels must be monitored, either a senior operator or reactor operator assigned to the current control room shift must be within