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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.
David H. Worledge, Ian B. Wall
Nuclear Technology | Volume 84 | Number 3 | March 1989 | Pages 256-259
Technical Paper | Probabilistic Safety Assessment and Risk Management / Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT89-A34208
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Electric Power Research Institute research project on common-cause failures (CCFs) is the main vehicle for presenting a survey of developments in the field over the last 5 yr. The roles of other organizations worldwide are highlighted to show the international and synergistic character of the work accomplished. Included are aspects of data analysis, modeling approaches, and defensive strategies and tactics that can lessen the impact of CCFs on risk and plant operations. The emphasis is on how the available approaches can be seen to contribute to a more systematic and integrated treatment of CCFs in applied risk and reliability analyses than has been available in the past. Opportunities for future research are also briefly discussed.