Study: Palisades accountability lacks

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A safety culture assessment of the troubled Palisades Nuclear plant near South Haven has found "a lack of accountability at all levels."

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission just released an executive summary of the outside study. The NRC already noted problems with the "safety culture" at Palisades, which has one of the worst safety records in the country.  

The outside study was one of the actions required in the plant's Performance Recovery Plan.

Workers at the plant perceive they "cannot challenge management decisions, that helpful criticism is not encouraged and that they cannot approach management with concerns," the report states, adding workers have a widespread "perception of fear and punishment."

The study team found a "lack of confidence and trust" in management to be "open, to make the right decisions and really mean what they say."

It notes that employees don't believe Palisades management "really wants problems or concerns reported..."

The NRC says many of the actions needed to correct what was found in the culture study were already underway as part of the Performance Recovery Plan.