Application of a new technique for human event analysis (ATHEANA) at a pressurized-water reactor

Conference · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:654195

Forester, J A ^[1]; Kiper, K ^[2]; Ramey-Smith, A ^[3]

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1. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. Seabrook Nuclear Station (United States)
3. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States)

Over the past several years, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has sponsored the development of a new method for performing human reliability analyses (HRAs). A major impetus for the program was the recognized need for a method that would not only address errors of omission (EOOs), but also errors of commission (EOCs). Although several documents have been issued describing the basis and development of the new method referred to as ``A Technique for Human Event Analysis`` (ATHEANA), two documents were drafted to initially provide the necessary documentation for applying the method: the frame of reference (FOR) manual, which served as the technical basis document for the method and the implementation guideline (IG), which provided step by step guidance for applying the method. Upon the completion of the draft FOR manual and the draft IG in April 1997, along with several step-throughs of the process by the development team, the method was ready for a third-party test. The method was demonstrated at Seabrook Station in July 1997. The main goals of the demonstration were to (1) test the ATHENA process as described in the FOR manual and the IG, (2) test a training package developed for the method, (3) test the hypothesis that plant operators and trainers have significant insight into the EFCs that can make UAs more likely, and (4) identify ways to improve the method and its documentation. The results of the Seabrook demonstration are evaluated against the success criteria, and important findings and recommendations regarding ATHENA that were obtained from the demonstration are presented here.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 654195
• Report Number(s): SAND--98-0981C; CONF-980907--; ON: TI98005777; BR: 401001060
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
ERRORS
HUMAN FACTORS
PERFORMANCE
REACTOR OPERATORS
SEABROOK-1 REACTOR
TRAINING