Document: NUREG-0800
Document ID: eedf1a7c-578e-463a-9608-b06af6312cf1
Document Type: srp
Title: HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING
Source: NUREG-0800
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1310/ML13108A095.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 18
Section ID: 18.0
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
ls below those specified in the regulations. To evaluate applicant requests for staffing exemptions that allow for reduced staffing levels, the NRC review needs criteria by which these requests can be evaluated. 18.0-28 Draft Revision 3 – July 2015 A top priority criterion is task performance. An acceptable minimum staffing level is one that can successfully accomplish the most demanding tasks, under conditions that reflect real-world challenges including the demands of multi-tasking. Tasks have to be performed accurately and on time, so that overall plant operational and safety goals can be achieved. Successful task performance is the main criterion for evaluating a proposed staffing level. That is, if the crew at the minimal staffing level cannot perform their tasks, the staffing level is not acceptable. However, while task performance is an important acceptance criterion, it’s not the only one. Crew task performance can be negatively impacted by many factors and some of these factors need to be considered as well. One of the factors that can negatively impact a crew’s ability to accomplish their tasks is workload. High workload can delay a task’s performance until it is too late or cause a task to be missed altogether. Even when tasks are performed accurately and on time, high workload causes performance to be “fragile,” in that there may be little or no margin for dealing with added complications. If additional complications are encountered, the workload level may rise to the point where task performance is negatively impacted. Thus it’s important to know that not only is task performance acceptable, but workload levels are not excessive. In addition to workload, there are other factors that impact task performance. For example, failure to properly monitor the plant, or inattention, can also cause tasks to be delayed or overlooked. This condition is sometimes caused by “underload,” i.e., insufficient workload. Insufficient workload is a concern