Human Reliability Analysis of Soft Control Operations in Nuclear Power Plants: Issues and Perspectives

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to describe several issues which should be considered in the human reliability analysis of soft control operations in nuclear power plants. Background: The operational environment of advanced main control rooms is totally different from that of conventional control rooms. The soft control is one of the major distinguishable features of the advanced main control rooms. The soft control operations should be analyzed to estimate the effects on human reliability. Method: The literatures, about task analysis, simulation data analysis, and a human reliability analysis method for the soft control, were reviewed. From the review, important issues for the human reliability analysis of the soft control were raised. Results: The results of task and simulation data analysis showed that the soft control characteristics could have large effect on human reliability and they should be considered in the human reliability analysis of the soft control operations. Conclusion: The soft control may affect human error and performance of operators. The issues described in this paper should be considered in the human reliability method for the advanced main control rooms. Application: The results of the soft control operation analysis might help to design more efficient interface and education/training program for preventing human errors. The described issues might help to develop a human reliability analysis method for soft control operations.