|
Operational Procedures - Industry Observations and Opportunities for Improvement.
Abstract:
The purpose of this paper is to relate some of the commonly encountered problems with
operational procedures in the nuclear industry and offer practical suggestions for their
elimination. The paper is based on recent consultant experience in assisting industry
clients with human performance related design and assessment initiatives.
Operational procedures are a key part of an integrated system design. Procedures provide
the specified instructions for actions people are to undertake in operating a facility to
achieve production and safety goals. While organizations continue to make substantial
investments in procedure development and maintenance, problems with procedures
continue to occur, as evidenced through operating inefficiencies, errors, and events.
The paper reviews the role procedures play in facility operations, comments on current
development and maintenance practices, discusses the extent of human performance
related problems attributed to procedure deficiencies, reviews commonly encountered
problems with design and implementation of procedures, and offers suggestions on how
some of these issues might be addressed in the future.
|
