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2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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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.
C. I. Nichol, D. P. Pace, E. D. Larsen, T. R. McJunkin, D. E. Clark, M. L. Clark, K. L. Skinner, A. D. Watkins, H. B. Smartt
Nuclear Technology | Volume 176 | Number 1 | October 2011 | Pages 138-146
Radioactive Waste Management and Disposal | doi.org/10.13182/NT11-A12548
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Waste Package Closure System, for the closure of radioactive waste in canisters for permanent storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level waste in the Yucca Mountain Repository, was designed, fabricated, and successfully demonstrated at the Idaho National Laboratory. This paper focuses on the robotic hardware and tools necessary to remotely weld and inspect the closure lid welds. The system was operated remotely and designed for use in a radiation field due to the SNF contained in the waste packages being closed.
