Understanding human and organisational factors within the nuclear industry is essential to achieving optimal performance and to developing the sector.
On 2-4 November, the NEA Working Group on Human and Organisational Factors (WGHOF) held its 32nd biennial meeting at the Nuclear Energy Agency headquarters in Paris, France.
NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV welcomed approximately 30 delegates from 17 NEA member countries and partner organisations, before the delegates delved into discussions around the five ongoing activities that were launched in 2022:
- the nuclear sector’s response to COVID-19 from an organisational and human perspective;
- a compilation of human and organisational factors (HOF) training into a catalogue for HOF experts and non-experts;
- regulatory oversight and its effects on HOF and safety culture in light of the lessons learnt from the Boeing 737 MAX accidents;
- good practices for investigators on identifying HOF issues from event analysis processes; and
- trust as an industry and organisational capability.
WGHOF delegates toured the Crisis Center of the Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire (IRSN), the French nuclear safety organisation based in Fontenay-aux-Roses, near Paris.
The plenary meeting invited external speakers from the aviation industry and the medical sector who gave key insights in the areas of focus, such as the impact of COVID-19 and initiatives to strengthen safety culture. Additionally, WGHOF participants took the opportunity to engage in productive discussions with other NEA working parties, including the NEA Expert Group on Small Modular Reactors and the Working Group on Fuel Cycle Safety.
WGHOF delegates during their tour to the Crisis Center of the Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire (IRSN).
On the final day of the meeting, delegates toured the Crisis Center of the Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire (IRSN), the French nuclear safety organisation based in Fontenay-aux-Roses, near Paris, where they viewed the technical center facilities and the mobile crisis vehicles and equipment.
For more on the work of the WGHOF, visit here.
