Human Factors Engineers as Change Agents

Conference · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:10134383

Hallbert, B. P. ^[1]; Harbour, G. L. ^[1]; Caccamise, D. J. ^[1]; Francis, L. C. ^[1]

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1. EG and G Rocky Flats, Inc., Golden, CO (United States). Rocky Flats Plant

This presentation describes a case study and the lessons learned when a Human Factors Engineering (HFE) Department was enlisted as technical experts but gradually assumed a much larger role as change agents in transforming outdated job practices into streamlined processes that promoted a safety culture. At Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons processing plant in Colorado, a workforce of over 7000 people support or directly operate a myriad of processes that range from laboratory analysis to typical foundry activities, greatly complicated by the presence of fissile, radioactive materials. Safe handling of these materials was governed by detailed discussions contained in Nuclear Material Safety limits (NMSLs). In spite of this rather extensive documentation, operators were committing an unacceptable number of safety infractions. Analysis revealed NMSLs were difficult to comprehend and not practical for use in operational settings. New job performance aids, called Criticality Safety Operating Limits (CSOLs) were developed to solve these problems. However, the solution involved more than applying good human factors principles to this job-aid. Following the classic Lewin Force Field Model of Change, safety infractions made change imperative; the forces operating against it were tradition, and perceived irrelevance of new expertise. Historically, Criticality Engineering dictated safety limits to Operations. In the course of ``Human Factoring`` the CSOLs, the HFE, through an iterative process, became the team integrator of this development process. Using Quality concepts such as buy-in, empowerment, and ownership, HFE was able to instantiate and receive enthusiastic acceptance of their products.

• Research Organization: EG and G Rocky Flats, Inc., Golden, CO (United States). Rocky Flats Plant
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC34-90DP62349
• OSTI ID: 10134383
• Report Number(s): RFP--4554; CONF-921048--2; ON: DE92010324
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

054000
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
990100
Case Study
Criticality Safety Operating Limits (CSOLs)
FISSILE MATERIALS
HEALTH AND SAFETY
HUMAN FACTORS
Human Factoring
Human Factors Engineering (HFE)
Lessons
MAN-MACHINE SYSTEMS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS HANDLING
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Outdated Job Practices
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
ROCKY FLATS PLANT
SAFETY ENGINEERING
Safety Culture
Streamlining