Chapter 13 Human Factors

DOE-STD -3009-94

Chapter 13

Human Factors

PU R P O S E . The purpose of this DSA chapter is to provide information that will satisfy

the requirements of 10 CFR 830. This chapter is not intended to be the vehicle for review

and approval of the human factors process. It is intended to descr ibe the essential

characteristics of the process as it relates to facility safety.

This chapter focuses on human factors engineering, its importance to facility safety, and

the design of the facility to optimize human performance. Human factors consists o f:

Human factors engineering that focuses on designing facilities, systems,

equipment, and tools so they are sensitive to the capabilities, limitations, and

needs of humans.

Human reliability analysis that quantifies the contribution of human error to the

facility risk.

This chapter focuses exclusively on human factors engineering. Use of the term human

factors in this Standard does not connote an expectation of or requirement for human

This chapter demonstrates that human factors are considered in facility operations where

humans are relied upon for preventive actions (e.g., surveillance and maintenance activities

during normal operations), and for operator mitigative actions during abnormal and

emergency operations. In this respect, the human- machine interface is an integral part of

facility safety and, thus, requires special treatment in the DSA. The emphasis is on

human-machine interfaces required for ensuring the safety function of safety SSCs that are

important to safety and on the provisions made for optimizing the design of those human-

machine interfaces to enhance reliable human performance.

A complete discussion of human factors without application of the graded approach

includes:

Description of the human- factors process for systematically inquiring into the

importance of human factors in facility safety.

Description of human-machine interfaces with safety-significant SSCs and safety-

class SSCs that are important to safety.

Description of the systematic inquiry into the optimization human- machine

interfaces with safety-significant SSCs and safety-class SSCs to enhance human

performance.

Existing supporting documentation is to be referenced. Include brief abstracts of

referenced documentation with enough of the salient facts to provide an

understanding of the referenced documentation and its relation to this chapter.

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