Overcoming the effects of acute stress through good teamwork practices

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States)

OSTI ID:6639124

Harrington, D K ^[1]; Gaddy, C D ^[2]

---

1. Team Foundation, Winston-Salem, NC (United States)
2. General Physics Corp., Columbia, MD (United States)

Two recent industry studies have taken a look at operators in stressful situations. In the context of severe-accident management, Mumaw et al. discussed four approaches to training operators for severe accidents: (1) training for knowledge or procedural skills; (2) training decision makers about goals and plans; (3) training to avoid cognitive biases; and (4) training within a realistic setting. These four approaches address directly the cognitive skills important for decision making. These types of training can also address indirectly the effects of stress on performance. First, effects of stress on decision making, such as reduced working memory, can be addressed by training cognitive skills. Second, exposure to realistically stressful situations can reduce the novelty and uncertainty, which is a primary cause of stress reactions. In a second study reported by Desaulniers, the stress of requalification exams was the focus. Desaulniers concluded that repeated changes in the exam process, inconsistency in interpretation of examiner guidelines, and some content and grading practices resulted in undue stress for the operators. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff actions to remedy these sources of undue stress were described.

• OSTI ID: 6639124
• Report Number(s): CONF-921102--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States) Journal Volume: 66
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210000 -- Nuclear Power Plants
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990100 -- Management
ANIMALS
EDUCATION
ENGINEERING
EVALUATION
HUMAN FACTORS
HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING
MAMMALS
MAN
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR OPERATORS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
ORGANIZATIONAL MODELS
PERFORMANCE
PERSONNEL
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
POWER PLANTS
PRIMATES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TRAINING
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WORKING CONDITIONS