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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.
Kim David Auclair, Joann S. Epler
Nuclear Technology | Volume 87 | Number 2 | October 1989 | Pages 504-508
Technical Paper | TMI-2: Health Physics and Environmental Release / Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT89-A27744
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A considerable amount of information has been obtained and documented concerning the March 1979 accident, and its consequences, at the Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) nuclear generating station. This information has usefulness beyond its immediate application at TMI-2. Issues raised as a result of the accident pose questions that are technical, legal, financial, and political in nature. These issues are far reaching and complex; consequently, the matrix organization responding to these issues may also seem complex. Because the quantity of information is vast, “technical data” generated as a result of the TMI-2 accident cleanup activities are emphasized. A summary of the most common types of information generated and the administrative entities associated with them is given.