ML24158A228
| ML24158A228 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/09/2024 |
| From: | Christian Araguas NRC/RES/DRA/HFRB |
| To: | Russell Felts, Mike Franovich Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Shared Package | |
| ML24158A227 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML24158A228 (1) | |
Text
MEMORANDUM TO:
Russell Felts, Director Division of Reactor Oversight Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Michael X. Franovich, Director Division of Risk Assessment Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:
Christian Araguas, Director Division of Risk Analysis Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
SUBJECT:
RESEARCH INFORMATION LETTER (RIL 2022-11) HUMAN PERFORMANCE TEST FACILITY VOLUME 4 The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) is providing, for your information and use, Research Information Letter (RIL) report, Human Performance Test Facility (HPTF) Volume 4 (RIL 2022-11). This report presents a detailed re-analysis of the data reported in RIL 2022-11 Volumes 1-3 with the goal of understanding the prevalence and potential impact of task order effects on operator workload from a subjective, physiological, and performance-based perspective. Understanding task order effects are important for two primary reasons:
(1) order effects can be potential confounding factors during a human factors evaluation, making some tasks seem more (or less) demanding than they really are, which has potential safety implications. NRC reviewer awareness of the likelihood and impact of order effects can be helpful in supporting identification of these effects during human factors evaluations; (2) Task order, particularly when it impacts an operators ability to maintain vigilance can be a performance influencing factor. The report details the narrow range of conditions where task order may be an area of consideration as a performance influencing factor in the context of vigilance decrements and operator fatigue.
This experimental work, like all the HPTF studies was conducted after the Commission, in SRM SECY-08-0195, directed the staff to consider using generic simulator platforms for addressing human performance issues, as simulators provide a tool to gather more empirical nuclear specific human performance data. These experimental data can enhance the current information gathering process, and therefore provide stronger technical bases and guidance to support regulatory decision making.
For example, the former Office of New Reactors (NRO) issued a user need for RES to update its Human Factors (HF) review guidance with regards to emerging technologies (User Need NRO-2012-007) and, more recently, the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) issued a follow-on user need with the same purpose (User Need NRR-2019-008). Additionally, empirical human performance data collection ensures a better understanding of the various cognitive and physical elements that support CONTACT:
Kelly Dickerson, RES/DRA/HFRB 301-415-3917 July 9, 2024 Reisi-Fard, Mehdi signing on behalf of Araguas, Christian on 07/09/24
R. Felts, et al 2
safe control room operation. Likewise, the Commission directed staff in SRM-M061020 to improve the state of the art of human reliability analysis (HRA) and later the issue of SRM-M090204b the HPTF efficiently supports dual HF and HRA data missions.
RES has worked closely with NRR to ensure that the cognizant staff members from each organization were aware of the results of the referenced research and how the products could be applied to ongoing and future regulatory activities prior to transmittal of the final report. We expect that this close working relationship will continue.
RES has established an online quality survey to collect feedback from user offices on the usefulness of RES products and services. This survey can be found online at this hyperlink. RES would appreciate the responsible manager or supervisor completing this shortabout 5 minutessurvey within the next 10 working days to present your offices views of the delivered RES product.
Enclosure:
- 1. RIL 2022-11; Human Performance Test Facility Volume
ML24158A227; Memo ML24158A228 OFFICE RES/DRA/HFRB RES/DRA/HFRB RES/DRA/HFRB RES/DRA NAME NHughes KDickerson SPeters CAraguas MReisi-Fard for DATE Jun 6, 2024 Jun 6, 2024 Jun 24, 2024 Jul 9, 2024