Managing the Effects of Degraded Digital Instrumentation and Control Conditions on Operator Performance: Human Factors Engineering Review Guidance Development (NUREG/CR-7264, BNL-228841-2025-NREG)

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: May 2025
Date Published: December 2025

Prepared by:
J. O’Hara¹, W. Gunther¹
G. Martinez-Guridi¹, T. Anderson¹
J. Xing², S. Morrow²

¹Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY

²U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC

Jing Xing and Stephanie Morrow, NRC Project Managers

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington DC 20555-0001

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Abstract

Modern digital instrumentation and control (DI&C) systems provide sophisticated monitoring, diagnostic, and prognostic functions, as well as integrated control of plant systems and processes. Personnel interact with DI&C systems through human-system interfaces (HSIs) in the control room and elsewhere in a nuclear power plant. While digital systems are generally reliable, their potential degradation or failure could affect operator performance and consequently impact plant safety.

The objectives of this U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) research were to (1) examine the effects of degraded HSI and DI&C conditions on human performance and plant operations, and (2) develop guidance for the review of HSI support for the detection and management of degraded HSI and DI&C conditions by plant personnel. The study followed the NRC’s methodology for the development of human factors engineering guidance, which consists of four steps: (1) user needs analysis, (2) technical basis and guidance development, (3) peer review, and (4) guidance integration and document publication. The technical basis was established from a review of pertinent standards and guidelines, empirical studies, plant operating experience, and DI&C failure events. The guidance in this report was incorporated into NUREG-0700, Revision 3, “Human-System Interface Design Review Guidelines,” issued July 2020.