ABSTRACT
Introduction This paper describes the application of a practical methodology to assess the implications of carrying out a specific plant manoeuvre with various assumed staffing levels. The exercise was carried out during the design phase of the Sizewell ' B ' pressurized water reactor (PWR). The manoeuvre selected for analysis was a normal reactor coolant system (RCS) cooldown and depressuriza tion to the Cold Shutdown State . This manoeuvre was chosen because it was known to involve significant operator actions which might have an impact on automation requirements and staffing levels. Since the manoeuvre must also be performed following a variety of faults , for example a steam generator tube rupture (SGTR), it was perceived as having a high safety significance. An additional advantage was that the information obtained could form the basis of similar future assessments of post-fault recoveries. This exercise involved the integration of several task analysis techniques to ensure the overall objectives of the exercise could be achieved.
