Results of a nuclear power plant application of A New Technique for Human Error Analysis (ATHEANA)
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Buttonwood Consulting, Inc. (United States); and others
A new method to analyze human errors has been demonstrated at a pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plant. This was the first application of the new method referred to as A Technique for Human Error Analysis (ATHEANA). The main goals of the demonstration were to test the ATHEANA process as described in the frame-of-reference manual and the implementation guideline, test a training package developed for the method, test the hypothesis that plant operators and trainers have significant insight into the error-forcing-contexts (EFCs) that can make unsafe actions (UAs) more likely, and to identify ways to improve the method and its documentation. A set of criteria to evaluate the success of the ATHEANA method as used in the demonstration was identified. A human reliability analysis (HRA) team was formed that consisted of an expert in probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) with some background in HRA (not ATHEANA) and four personnel from the nuclear power plant. Personnel from the plant included two individuals from their PRA staff and two individuals from their training staff. Both individuals from training are currently licensed operators and one of them was a senior reactor operator on shift until a few months before the demonstration. The demonstration was conducted over a 5-month period and was observed by members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission`s ATHEANA development team, who also served as consultants to the HRA team when necessary. Example results of the demonstration to date, including identified human failure events (HFEs), UAs, and EFCs are discussed. Also addressed is how simulator exercises are used in the ATHEANA demonstration project.
- Research Organization:
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, Washington, DC (United States); Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States); USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 305916
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CP-0162-Vol.2; CONF-9710101-Vol.2; ON: TI98007504; TRN: IM9906%%168
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 25. water reactor safety information meeting, Bethesda, MD (United States), 20-22 Oct 1997; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1998; Related Information: Is Part Of Twenty-fifth water reactor safety information meeting: Proceedings. Volume 2: Human reliability analysis and human performance evaluation; Technical issues related to rulemakings; Risk-informed, performance-based initiatives; High burn-up fuel research; Monteleone, S. [comp.] [Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)]; PB: 236 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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