• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.559-568
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effective managerial factors influencing dose reduction of the nozzle dam installation and removal tasks ranking within top 3 in viewpoint of average collective dose of nuclear power plant maintenance job. Background: International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) recommended to reduce unnecessary dose and to minimize the necessary dose on the participants of maintenance job in radiation fields. Method: Seven sessions of nozzle dam installation and removal task logs yielded a multiple regression model with collective dose as a dependent variable and work time, number of participants, space doses before and after shield as independent variables. From the sessions in which a significant reduction in collective dose occurred, the effective managerial factors were elicited. Results: Work time was the most important factor contributing to collective dose reduction of nozzle dam installation and removal task. Introduction of new technology in nozzle dam design or maintenance job is the most important factor for work time reduction. Conclusion: With extended task logs and big data processing technique, the more accurate prediction model illustrating the relationship between collective dose reduction and effective managerial factors would be developed. Application: The effective managerial factors will be useful to reduce collective dose of decommissioning tasks as well as regular preventive maintenance tasks for a nuclear power plant.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.145-154
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• 2003

By optimizing the radiation protection the collective dose and individual dose could be reduced during YGN #4 $5^{th}$ outage in 2001. The collective doses for the two high radiation jobs decreased to 85% and 65% of expected doses. The proportion of workers with low dose (below 1mSv) exposure increased 4% while the proportion of workers with over 3mSv and 5mSv exposure are decreased to 2%, 1% respectively. But none is exposed over 8mSv for the annual dose. To aid decision of utilizing the robot, cost- benefit analysis was performed and reasonable point was proposed to use the robot. For the first time job, repeated ALARA meeting and mock up training were implemented to set up working procedure by identifying the trouble. To easily set up standard procedure, mockup process was videotaped and reviewed during ALARA meeting. Monitoring is a good approach to chase radiological working condition such as working time, dose rate. behavior of workers, especially for high radiation work. Those data were estimated and adjusted from the stage of work planning to mock up. At the stage of actual work the monitoring data were compared to the estimation and recorded to database. This database will not only be used as a powerful tool for dose optimization at the following outage but also as a guideline to dose constraint set up for optimization for each specific situation.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2023

Background: As the number of nuclear facilities nearing their pre-determined design life increases, demand is increasing for technology and infrastructure related to the decommissioning and decontamination (D&D) process. It is necessary to consider the nature of the dismantling environment constantly changing and the worker doing new tasks. A method was studied that can calculate the effect of learning and the change in work time on the work process, according to the learning-forgetting curve model (LFCM). Materials and Methods: The LFCM was analyzed, and input values and scenarios were analyzed for substitution into the D&D process of a nuclear facility. Results and Discussion: The effectiveness and efficiency of the training were analyzed. It was calculated that skilled workers can receive a 16.9% less collective radiation dose than workers with only basic training. Conclusion: Using these research methods and models, it was possible to calculate the change in the efficiency of workers performing new tasks in the D&D process and the corresponding reduction in the work time and collective dose.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 2003

Annual radiation dose limit to radiation worker was substantially lowered in Korea by the adoption of 1990 recommendations of the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP 60) in its legislation. On the other hand, radiation management environment in nuclear power plants is getting more worse because of the accumulation of radiation sources inside the system and the frequent need for maintenance according as the operation years of nuclear power plants increase. Therefore, Korea Hydro & Nuclear power Co., Ltd. (KHNP) has established a long-term 10 years plan from 2001 to 2010 for the reduction of radiation dose to workers. The plan is aimed for the reduction of annual dose per unit averaged over 5 years from 0.9 man-Sv in 2001 to 0.75 man-Sv in 2010 by radiation source reduction, equipment/tool improvement or new equipment development for easy maintenance, and the improvement of administration and system.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.308-317
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• 1998

Ensuring occupational radiation exposure(ORE) as low as is reasonably achievable(ALARA) has been one of very important requirements in a nuclear power plant. It is well known that about 70 percent of occupational dose has incurred from maintenance jobs in the outage period. To reduce occupational dose effectively, the high-dose jobs in the outage period should be identified with their dose reduction potentials and methods. In this study, a PC-based ORE database program, INSTORE, is developed to evaluate ORE doses in individual jobs, and the ORE data of Kori Units 3 and 4 are assembled to the database. Based on customary job classification, radiation work is classified into 26 main jobs which comprise 61 detailed jobs, and occupational doses are assessed according to each detailed job. As a result, high-dose jobs are identified with dose reduction priority in terms of collective ORE dose. It is recommended that adeqaute dose reduction methods for these jobs should be prepared to improve their working conditions and procedures.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.149-157
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• 1998

An analysis has been performed to estimate the additional number of workers and the additional collective dose in man-cSv which would be required, nuclear industry-wide as a result of reducing individual dose limit. This analysis can be extended to the reduction in the dose limits recommended by ICRP Publ.60 and BEIR V report as well as the proposed dose limits by regulatory authorities. An industry-wide database was employed in the analysis based on a summary of industry-wide occupational radiation exposure compiled by the Korea Radioisotope Association. Correlation model was employed to compute the affects of setting specific annual individual dose limits. In this study, we have addressed worker non-productivity while in the radiation environment on a parametric or 'sensitivity analysis' basis. This alleviates the need for developing such data underlying a summation of many individual tasks at many nuclear facilities. It has the advantage that very low non-productivity assumptions can readily be defended as conservative, in that it is difficult to approach such low worker non-productivity factors even in the best of environments in any industry. On a per facility basis, for calendar year 1997, the number of workers required would be increased from 231 workers to 269 workers and collective man-cSv dose would be also increased by approximately fourteen percent if the individual dose limit was reduced to 2 cSv/y and an individual worker non-productivity fraction of 0.1 is assumed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 1997

The specific purpose of this study is to develop the numerical guide for the cost-benefit analysis of ORE ($/person-Sv reduction) to meet the criterion of ALARA in the design stage of the KNGR. In deriving the guide, the risk factor which is defined by the risk to unit collective radiation exposure dose (deaths/person-Sv) and the monetary value of human life ($/death) are required. The risk factor has been estimated from various clinical data accumulated for a number of years and continuously modified. And the monetary value of human life is usually quantified using the human capital approach. In this study, the risk to radiation exposure perceived by a group of people is investigated through an extensive poll survey conducted among university students in order to modify the existing risk factor for radiation exposure. And in evaluating the monetary value of human life, the QOL factor is introduced in order to incorporate the degree of public welfare or quality of life. As a result of study, a value within the range of 151, 000~172, 000 dollars per person-Sv reduction is recommended as the appropriate interim numerical guide for cost-benefit analysis of ORE to meet the criterion of ALARA in the design stage of the KNGR. A poll survey was also conducted in order to see whether the public acceptance cost of nuclear power should be incorporated in developing the guide, and the result of study shooed that such a cost does not need to be considered.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.127-135
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• 2003

The primary contributors to the total occupational radiation exposure in operating nuclear power plants are operation and maintenance activities doting refueling outages. The Advanced Power Reactor 1400 (APR1400) includes a number of design improvements and plans to utilize advanced maintenance methods and robotics to minimize the annual collective dose. The major radiation exposure reduction features implemented in APR1400 are a permanent refueling pool seal, quick opening transfer tube blind flange, improved hydrogen peroxide injection at shutdown, improved permanent steam generator work platforms, and more effective temporary shielding. The estimated average annual occupational radiation exposure for APR1400 based on the reference plant experience and an engineering judgment is determined to be in the order of 0.4 man-Sv, which is well within the design goal of 1 man-Sv. The basis of this average annual occupational radiation exposure estimation is an eighteen (18) month fuel cycle with maintenance performed to steam generators and reactor coolant pumps during refueling outage. The outage duration is assumed to be 28 days. The outage work is to be performed on a 24 hour per day basis, seven (7) days a week with overlapping twelve (12) hour work shifts. The occupational radiation exposure for APR1400 is also determined by an alternate method which consists of estimating radiation exposures expected for the major activities during the refueling outage. The major outage activities that cause the majority of the total radiation exposure during refueling outage such as fuel handling, reactor coolant pump maintenance, steam generator inspection and maintenance, reactor vessel head area maintenance, decontamination, and ICI & instrumentation maintenance activities are evaluated at a task level. The calculated value using this method is in close agreement with the value of 0.4 man-Sv, that has been determined based on the experience aid engineering judgement. Therefore, with the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) advanced design features incorporated in the design, APR1400 design is to meet its design goal with sufficient margin, that is, more than a factor of two (2), if operated on art eighteen (18) month fuel cycle.