ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2026
Nuclear Technology
August 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The human factor in licensing and operating the next generation of nuclear plants
As human factors specialists working at the intersection of human performance and nuclear operations, we are witnessing one of the nuclear sector’s most significant transitions in decades. The emergence of small modular reactors, microreactors, and other advanced designs is reshaping the industry’s landscape. Digital instrumentation and controls, passive safety systems, and increased automation are creating opportunities for greater safety margins and more flexible operation. These same features also fundamentally redefine what it means to “operate” a nuclear plant. Interactions among human roles, automation, and passive systems shape how people maintain awareness, exercise judgment, and intervene when necessary. These developments affect both operational realities and the regulatory foundations on which nuclear safety is built.
Technical Session|Panel|Sponsored by NISD
Wednesday, November 18, 2020|2:40–4:20PM EST
Session Chair:
N. Prasad Kadambi
Alternate Chair:
Robert W. Youngblood
Session Organizer:
Andrew J. Clark
Staff Producer:
Julie Bry (American Nuclear Society)
RIPB ideas are widely accepted in principle, but have so far realized only part of their full potential. In the operating fleet, licensing processes were originally developed based on Design Basis Accident considerations; RIPB ideas have been applied only perturbatively, generally in order to justify license modifications or enforcement decisions. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is finding increased use as a way to consider nuclear reactor design, construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning in a continuum of processes rather than compartmentalized activities. This should enable better use of RIPB methods for more useful consensus standards. The ANS has been making progress within the Standards Committee to improve standards development using some aspects of this approach. The panel discussion will consider application of RIPB approaches in other domains, its nexus with Model-Based Systems Engineering, and how best to reflect RIPB principles in consensus standards.
Robert Youngblood, III
Idaho National Laboratory
Kent Welter
NuScale Power
Ralph Hill
Westinghouse Electric Co
Chester Everline
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
To access the session recording, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
Register NowLog In
To access session resources, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.