Managing human performance-INPO's human performance evaluation system

The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), working with several members and participant utilities in an extended pilot program, has developed a nonpunitive program designed to identify, evaluate, and correct situations that cause human performance errors. This program, called the Human Performance Evaluation System (HPES), is described. Its primary goal is to improve human reliability in overall nuclear plant operations by reducing human error through correction of the conditions that cause the errors. Workers at participating nuclear utilities are encouraged to report their errors; a specially trained plant coordinator then investigates and recommends action to correct the root causes of these errors.<>