Training Course on Root Cause Analysis and Event Investigation

The European Network on Operational Experience Feedback (OEF) for Nuclear Power Plants, called “the EU Clearinghouse”, gathers European safety authorities, technical support organisations and international organizations. It is operated by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (EC JRC) located at Petten in the Netherlands.

Since its founding in 2008, the EU Clearinghouse has delivered a number of products and services to its members and a wider nuclear community. The Clearinghouse deliverables has included, among others, technical and scientific work on operating experience feedback, topical event analysis reports and also training on event investigation and root cause analysis.

Scope of the course

The training provides complete information on the nuclear event investigation and root cause analysis process. Emphasis is on practical usage of the RCA tools appropriate for event investigation and analysis of Human and Organisational Factors contributing to nuclear events.

The training course covers the following topics:

• Definitions and Basic Concepts to Operating Experience, Corrective Action Program, and Root Cause Analysis,
• Model Program for Root Cause Analysis,
• Human Performance,
• Analytical Techniques: Event & Causal Factors Chart,
• Analytical Techniques: Barrier Analysis,
• Change Analysis,
• Fault Tree Analysis,
• Task Analysis and Interviewing,
• Management Oversight and Risk Tree (MORT) Analysis,
• Evaluating the quality of the corrective actions with respect to risk assessment,
• Root Cause Analysis – International Perspective.

A variety of learning methods will be used, including formal lectures followed by practical examples of using the tools presented. The participants will also work on practical exercises.

Senior experts duly recognized in the field of operating experience feedback will deliver the course.

Accommodation and transportation

Participants will be responsible for booking their own accommodation.

For logistic and transportation reasons, it is suggested to book either the Amrath hotel in Alkmaar, if available, or other hotels nearby (see this website).

JRC will not provide any transportation to Alkmaar on the day of arrival. The participants can reach Alkmaar by the local train from the Amsterdam Central Station or from the Schiphol Airport.

JRC will arrange a taxi transportation from the Amrath hotel to the JRC Petten site and back during the training course. Participants wishing to use this transport option will meet at the Amrath hotel to be picked up. Participants may also come to the JRC Petten on their own. Please indicate your transportation preferences on the course registration page in the “Events” section.