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Coal Plant Overtime

Report Information

Date Issued
Report Number
2019-15686
Report Type
Inspection / Evaluation
Description
We determined significant amounts of overtime were worked by employees at all six of TVA’s coal plants. Specifically, the overtime worked at these plants was the equivalent of 165 full-time employees. In addition, we determined some individual employees worked significant amounts of overtime. For example, we found 37 instances during fiscals years 2018 and 2019 where employees worked over 1,000 hours of overtime and 1 employee who worked over 2,300 hours of overtime in a single year. We also determined TVA may not be accurately capturing the effects of fatigue because (1) fatigue assessments are no longer required when significant overtime is worked and (2) fatigue data is not trended with health and safety data in TVA’s medical case management system. Additionally, employees expressed concerns regarding the adverse impact of understaffing on safe operation of coal plants.
Joint Report
Yes
Participating OIG
Tennessee Valley Authority OIG
Agency Wide
Yes (agency-wide)
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0

Recommendations

We recommend the Vice President, Power Operations, Coal, reevaluate the staffing plan to determine if adjustments need to be made in order to address understaffing at coal plants.