Human and Organizational Factors in Nuclear Safety : The French Approach to Safety Assessments

This book discusses the specifics of safety regulations regarding nuclear risk and how experts contribute to the safety of nuclear installations. Drawing on research conducted in collaboration with the French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), the ideas that are put forward rely on a review of the practices of specialists in human and organizational factors concerning nuclear safety. The author shows that the French approach depends on maintaining a technical dialogue between the regulatory authority (ASN), IRSN and nuclear operators. This method of risk management is known as "French cooking" in the Anglo-Saxon world, where a more formal regulatory approach is taken. This technical dialogue does however hold certain benefits, particularly in the field of human and organizational factors, where it allows an advancement of the state of knowledge, which remains incomplete. After the Fukushima accident, in the face of an ongoing European and global re-evaluation of the safety of nuclear power and alignment towards the Anglo-Saxon standard, the French cooking approach may yet be able to make a significant contribution. This work will be of interest to all involved in nuclear power engineering and in the field of risk management and nuclear safety. __Includes a preface by Jacques Repussard, Director General, IRSN, France, and a postface by Erik Hollnagel, Professor, Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark / Chief Consultant, Centre for Quality, Region of Southern Denmark.__ Front Cover 1 Contents 6 PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH VERSION 10 PREFACE 12 INTRODUCTION 16 PART ONE. TECHNICAL DIALOGUE AND HUMAN FACTORS: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE 34 CHAPTER 1. THE EMERGENCE OF HUMAN FACTORS IN INSTITUTIONS OF TECHNICAL DIALOGUE 36 CHAPTER 2. INCORPORATION OF HUMAN FACTORS IN ASSESSMENT PROCESSES 62 CONCLUSION TO PART ONE: HISTORICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL INFLUENCES OF HUMAN FACTORS ASSESSMENTS? 80 PART TWO. THE ASSESSMENT FACTORY 82 CHAPTER 3. CONTRIBUTION TO THE MINOTAURE SAFETY REVIEW 88 CHAPTER 4. THE ANALYSIS OF INCIDENTS AT ARTÉMIS 126 CHAPTER 5. MANAGEMENT OF THE SKILLS OF OPERATING PERSONNEL IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS 158 CONCLUSION TO PART TWO: THE SINGULAR ASPECTS OF THE ASSESSMENT FACTORY 210 PART THREE. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ASSESSMENT 212 CHAPTER 6. PERSUADE OR CONVINCE: THE RHETORICAL AND COGNITIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ASSESSMENT 214 CHAPTER 7. THE OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ASSESSMENT — MASTERING THE STRENGTHS OF TECHNICAL DIALOGUE 256 CONCLUSION TO PART THREE: RESTORING THE BALANCE OF THE DIMENSIONS OF EFFECTIVENESS 276 GENERAL CONCLUSION 278 POSTFACE 284 REFERENCES 288 This book discusses the specifics of safety regulations regarding nuclear risk and the safety of nuclear installations. The author shows that (French) regulations concerning nuclear safety depend on maintaining a technical dialogue between the ASN, IRSN and nuclear operators. In the face of an ongoing European and global re-evaluation of the safety of nuclear power and alignment towards the Anglo-Saxon standard, the French approach may yet be able to make a significant contribution. This work will be of interest to all involved in nuclear power engineering and in the field of risk management and nuclear safety.