Integration of Safeguards, Security, Operations and Safety (SSOS)

Traditional design of nuclear facilities has focused on operational requirements with safety included where necessary. Typically safety considerations occur after the design is well under way. International safeguards, domestic safeguards and physical security are considered very late in the design, sometimes after design certification by the regulator. The final constructed facility therefore includes some features that are expensive to safeguard and secure. There is an apparent link between safety and operations and between operations and security. However, the link between Safeguards, Security and Safety has not been completely defined. It is our intent to demonstrate the linkage of Safeguards, Security, Operations and Safety (SSOS) in two phases. The first or static phase would be accomplished in the design of the facility to optimize those attributes of safety, security, and safeguards with common operational attributes. To accomplish this optimization, the attributes must explicitly be identified so that tradeoffs can be done. The second or dynamic phase would be accomplished during the operation of the facility monitoring these common attributes and taking the appropriate actions through a predetermined set of actions generated in the design phase. A plant operator is responsible for all three aspects of secure plant operation. The operator is focused on efficient plant operation and maximum plant availability. However, all other concerned parties only make requirements affecting the SSOS. Thus, we propose that by linking all four factors, safeguards, plant security, safety and operations the plant design and operation is enhanced to provide a more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable plant.