Certain nuclear facilities have fitness-for-duty programs to provide reasonable assurance that nuclear plant personnel will perform their tasks in a reliable manner, that they are not under the influence of any substance, legal or illegal, that may impair their ability to perform, and are not mentally or physically impaired from any cause that can adversely affect their ability to competently perform their duties.

In the 1980s, NRC began to focus on the integral role humans played in the safe operation of a nuclear power plant and certain fuel cycle facilities. The NRC published the Fitness-for-Duty Program (10 CFR Part 26) rule in 1989. This rule required licensees to implement a Fitness-for-Duty (FFD) Program for all personnel having unescorted access to the protected area. When the Commission approved this rule, it directed the staff to continue to analyze licensee programs, assess the effectiveness of the rule, and recommend appropriate improvements or changes. If you would like to provide comments about our program or contact someone in NRC about the FFD Program, please contact us.

The NRC published a revision to its General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions (NUREG-1600) (Enforcement Policy or Policy) to include an interim enforcement policy regarding enforcement discretion for certain fitness-for-duty issues. A notice was published in the Federal Register on October 31, 2002.

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Fitness-for-Duty Programs

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