IMPACT OF VIABLE SYSTEM MODEL (VSM) TYPE OF ORGANIZATIONAL CONCEPT ON SAFETY REGULATION OF THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY

摘要

VSM is based upon a holistic concept of a cybernetic biological model for organisms. Beer [1.] used this concept to construct a model for businesses. The VSM approach has been used to model the interactions between the NPP utilities, INPO and the NRC in this paper. In reality, one has to consider the competitive aspects between economics and safety, as far as NPP managements are concerned, but the paper focuses on safety issues in considering the equivalence between VSM and the current state of the nuclear industry. In the context of VSM, the role of management and outside organizations on improvements in safety culture of NPPs are considered. Various operations within a power plant organization can be modeled in a manner like similar autonomic functions in living animals. Such an autonomic function might be plant maintenance, however because of safety considerations, the role of safety culture must be considered in how they are modeled in VSM. This paper examines the enhancement of nuclear power plant (NPP) safety based upon three aspects, namely Regulation by US NRC, NPP self regulation and by INPO and their effectiveness. It appears that the organization of the US nuclear power has responded to accidents by making changes in its organizational structures. The current safety related structure, of the inter-relationships between the NPP utilities, NRC and INPO, is compared to a modified VSM [1.] approach. The industry's organization seems to developed towards a VSM approach. The paper is based upon a more detailed study made by the authors on the impact of regulation and control on safety using a VSM approach. Under Safety Regulations, limited safety variations are permitted under NRC rules. It is virtually impossible to produce power without equipment or human failures. The objective is to limit the accident consequences to values acceptable to the public. The design and operation of the NPPs should be such as to limit radioactive releases to as low as possible commensurate with public acceptability and this should achievable within the rules of the NRC and the guidance and help given by INPO. How the management structure of the industry is examined here. In order to give some context to understand the current state of the US nuclear Industry, the paper provides a brief commentary on the developments in safety awareness and implementation over the period from circa 1960 to present, including reference to Three Mile #2 accident and other incidents and how these accidents and incidents have influenced the industry.