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.
Shih-Kuei Cheng
Nuclear Technology | Volume 84 | Number 3 | March 1989 | Pages 305-314
Technical Paper | Probabilistic Safety Assessment and Risk Management / Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT89-A34214
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A model for the potential reactor coolant pump seal loss-of-coolant accident in a Westinghouse Electric Corporation pressurized water reactor following a loss of component cooling water (CCW) is developed based on state-of-the-art knowledge. The potential operator recovery actions in coping with a loss-of-CCW event are investigated, and an event tree is constructed to describe the possible core melt sequences. The sequence frequencies are plant specific; however, evaluations (of the sequence frequencies) demonstrate that an emergency operating procedure that clearly identifies possible recovery actions can reduce the core melt probability by two orders of magnitude.