Title: Incident in the Forsmark 1 nuclear power plant in 2006: analysis of communication issues between the plant and the operating company of the power grid

Authors: Elena Ilina, Hakan Sundquist

Addresses: Division of Structural Design and Bridges, The Royal Institute of Technology, Brinellvagen 34, Stockholm, Sweden. ' Division of Structural Design and Bridges, The Royal Institute of Technology, Brinellvagen 34, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: Previous studies of the Forsmark incident from 25 July 2006 emphasised a need to improve integration and communication between the nuclear plants and the operating company of the power grid. This paper aims to better understand why communication issues occurred and what improvements are needed. For these purposes, communication issues were analysed in the context of knowledge management, more specifically communication theories and activity theory. In particular, the historical background and the role of adverse events are studied.

Keywords: nuclear knowledge management; information; activity theory; communication theory; nuclear power plants; NPP; Forsmark nuclear plant; nuclear energy; knowledge breakdown; Sweden; nuclear safety; communication breakdown.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNKM.2010.036911

International Journal of Nuclear Knowledge Management, 2010 Vol.4 No.3, pp.235 - 242

Published online: 16 Nov 2010 *

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