Evaluation of the use of engineering judgements applied to analytical human reliablity analysis methods (HRA)

Date

2006-04-12

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Publisher

Texas A&M University

Abstract

Due to the scarcity of Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) data, one of the key elements of any HRA analysis is use of engineering judgment. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) HRA Calculator guides the user through the steps of any HRA analysis and allows the user to choose among analytical HRA methods. It applies Accident Sequence Evaluation Program (ASEP), Technique for Human Error Rate Prediction (THERP), the HCR/ORE Correlation, and the Caused Based Decision Tree Method (CBDTM). This program is intended to produce consistent results among different analysts provided that the initial information is similar. Even with this analytical approach, an HRA analyst must still render several judgments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of engineering judgment applied to the quantification of post-initiator actions using the HRA Calculator. The Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station (CPSES) Level 1 Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) HRA was used as a database for examples and numerical comparison. Engineering judgments were evaluated in the following ways: 1) Survey of HRA experts. Two surveys were completed, and the participants provided a range of different perspectives on how they individually apply engineering judgment. 2) Numerical comparison among the three methods. 3) Review of CPSES HRA and identification of judgments and the effects on the overall results of the database. The results of this study identified thirteen areas in which an HRA analyst must interpret and render judgments on how to quantify a Human Error Probability (HEP) and recommendations are provided on how current industry practitioners render these same judgments. The areas are: identification and definition of actions to be modeled, identification and definition of actions to be modeled, definition of critical actions, definition of cognitive portion of the action, choice of methodology, stress level, rule-, skill- or knowledge-based designation, timing information, training, procedures, human interactions with hardware, recoveries and dependencies within an action, and review of final HEP.

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