ABSTRACT
This chapter presents various important aspects of human factors and human error in nuclear power generation. It covers aging nuclear power plants’ human factors–related issues; human factors–related issues that can have a positive impact on decommissioning of nuclear power plants; human factors engineering design goals in regard to nuclear power generation systems and responsibilities; human factors review guide for next-generation nuclear reactors; human error, facts, figures, and examples concerning nuclear power generation; occurrences caused by operator errors in commercial nuclear power plants’ operation; causes of operator errors in commercial nuclear power plants’ operation; and problems.
Four human factors–related issues that can have the most positive impact upon safe and successful decommissioning of nuclear power plants are described in detail separately. These issues are maintaining safety culture, uncertainty about the future, retaining organizational memory, and maintaining adequate competence for decommissioning.
There are 10 problems at the end of the chapter to test the reader's comprehension in the area, and sources of most of the material presented in the chapter are given in its reference section.
