# Team-Communication Modeling Framework for Multi-Unit Nuclear Power Plant Accident Analysis
## 4 Discussion
### Main Insights from Case Study Analysis
#### 4.1.2 Challenges of ERT Cooperation in a Multi-Unit Accident  
We became aware of the ERT challenges during mobile equipment handling and identified three main challenges, as follows: distributed work locations, on-demand team creations, and authority changes. ERTs are in separate locations, both on-site and off-site, of the NPP. For instance, TSC is located on-site, while EOF, with higher authority, is located off-site [51; 52]. The cooperation between teams in distributed locations relies on team communication; however, in the case of a natural disaster-driven multi-unit accident, the telecommunication services might be disrupted. A technical solution is to prepare for a telecommunication media that will work in any disaster event and/or a strategy to recover the telecommunication services rapidly. In the accident scenario for our case study, the utilization of satellite phones is considered. However, the possibility of intermittent telecommunication services should not be overlooked. In general, the members of an MCR team are fixed, and this high familiarity is favorable to the team's work performance. In emergency situations, multiple ERTs are assembled, and when their members are absent, they are replaced. These on-demand and ad-hoc teams do not frequently work together (only during training), and the members may not be familiar with each other's expertise/experience [58], which makes emergency management more difficult. Last but not least, authority and role changes add to the confusion and time pressure of urgent accident-management tasks. Clear authority and roles are a must in multi-team \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c c} \hline \hline \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Analysis Results**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Contributions to NPP Accident**} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Contributions Type**} \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Transport of mobile equipment by the driver} & \(\bullet\) & Procedure to transport the mobile equipment (preparation, transport, return to post) & \(\bullet\) & Procedures/guidelines development \\  & \(\bullet\) & Driver mobility support to return to post & \(\bullet\) & Required system/facility/tools \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Possibility of equipment failure} & \(\bullet\) & Conditions to declare that the equipment is faulty during accident & \multirow{4}{*}{\(\bullet\)} & \multirow{4}{*}{\(\bullet\)} \\  & \(\bullet\) & Decision-making guidelines upon & & \\  & & equipment failure (to wait for repair & & \\  & & or request other equipment) & & \\  & & Procedure to repair the equipment & & \\  & & during accident (by which ERT, how, until when, etc.) & & \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Personnel management during accident} & \(\bullet\) & Personnel management procedure & \(\bullet\) & Procedures/guidelines development \\  & & (how to assemble ERT, how to request additional personnel, etc.) & \(\bullet\) & Accident-management support system \\  & \(\bullet\) & Personnel status monitoring system & & \\  & & (who is doing what) & & \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Maintenance of equipment and equipment-supporting facility} & \(\bullet\) & Equipment maintenance procedure & \(\bullet\) & Procedures/guidelines development \\  & & (budget, facility and tools, personnel, schedule, etc.) & \(\bullet\) & Required system/facility/tools \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Effect of ERTs’ distributed locations} & \(\bullet\) & Dedicated communication system & \(\bullet\) & Accident-management support system \\  & & & system \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{ERT member familiarity and authority change adaptability} & \(\bullet\) & Multi-unit accident training & \(\bullet\) & Accident-training scenario \\  & & Procedure to cope with authority changes & \(\bullet\) & Procedures/guidelines development \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 8: _Cont._work [59; 60]; however, at the beginning of multi-unit accident management, the roles of ERTs change depending on their activation status. MCR acts as a decision-maker when other ERTs are not yet assembled.