Recommendations for Developing Nuclear Power Plant Field Operators’ Visual Inspection Rounds

Nuclear power plant (NPP) field operators (FOs) conduct daily visual inspection rounds to detect deviations in process values or plant state, promoting safe and stable operations. This study aimed to develop recommendations to support visual inspection utilizing a participatory development process involving the Finnish nuclear community. First, to gain a systematic representation of the good practices and development needs, a survey was sent to all Finnish FOs (N = 114) across five units; 36 responses were received. As a result, eight recommendations were drawn covering topics, for example, work practices, FO training, and equipment supporting inspection. These were then discussed in a joint workshop with Finnish NPP representatives. The recommendations were generally well-received, though their usefulness and feasibility varied between the units; some could be directly implemented, while others served as tools for reflection and development. The participatory approach underpinned the relevance and practical applicability of the recommendations for developing the FO work.