Human factors review of power plant maintainability

Technical Report · Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6724594· OSTI ID:6724594

Seminara, J. L.; Parsons, S. O.; Schmidt, W. J.; Gonzalez, W. R.; Dove, L. E.

Human factors engineering is an interdisciplinary science and technology concerned with shaping the design of machines, facilities, and operational environments to promote safe, efficient, and reliable performance on the part of operators and maintainers of equipment systems. The human factors aspects of five nuclear power plants and four fossil fuel plants were evaluated using such methods as a checklist guided observation system, structured interviews with maintenance personnel, direct observations of maintenance tasks, reviews of procedures, and analyses of maintenance errors or accidents by means of the critical incident technique. The study revealed a wide variety of human factors problem areas, most of which are extensively photodocumented. The study recommends that a more systematic and formal approach be adopted to ensure that future power plants are human engineered to the needs of maintenance personnel.

• Research Organization: Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., Sunnyvale, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6724594
• Report Number(s): EPRI-NP-1567-SY; TRN: 81-001793
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
PERSONNEL
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
REACTOR OPERATORS
PERFORMANCE
EFFICIENCY
MAINTENANCE
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
210000* - Nuclear Power Plants
200100 - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Power Plants & Power Generation