The responsibility for safety requires that the operator establishes and maintains the necessary competencies of both staff and management for safe operations. This entails providing adequate training and effective knowledge management, establishing a culture and methodologies to main­tain safety under all conditions, and verifying that all activities and pro­cesses carried out by the plant staff are safe. Since several generations of operators will likely be involved over the lifetime of the plant, which could be 60 years or longer for modern plants, knowledge management must include effective knowledge transfer mechanisms. The IAEA has published a Safety Guide that provides information on the recruitment, qualification and training of NPP staff (IAEA, 2002d). The need for human resources in establishing a nuclear power programme is considered in Chapter 6.

Operator qualifications are usually prescribed by the operating license. To approve the qualifications, the regulator requires that the licensee provide information that the licensed operator meets the applicable quali­fication requirements in the license, has successfully completed the relevant training programme and examinations referred to in the license, and is capable in the opinion of the licensee of performing the duties for the posi­tion. Usually, the certification is for a set period of time and must be renewed. To renew the certification, the regulator may require the licensee to provide evidence that the licensed operator has safely and competently performed the duties of the position, has continued to receive the relevant training referred to in the license, has completed the requalification tests required by the licensee, and in the view of the licensee is capable of con­tinuing to perform the duties of the position.

A license may also require an operator to successfully complete an exam­ination administered by the RB to become certified. The operator may take the examination only after the regulator receives from the licensee an application that includes a statement that the person has successfully com­pleted the applicable training programme referred to in the license. The licensee is required to keep detailed records of staff training. This can include the status of each worker’s qualification, requalification and train­ing, including the results of all tests and examinations required under the license.