Current human factors standards development efforts within IEEE

Since 1980, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has supported the development of human factors standards. Within the IEEE, Subcommittee 7 (SC-7) of the Nuclear Power Engineering Committee (NPEC) develops and maintains human factors standards. Members of SC-7, Human Factors and Control Facilities, have extensive expertise in the human factors of nuclear generating facilities. NPEC provides funding for standards development or revision, oversees the activities of SC-7, and has power of approval for standards produced by NPEC subcommittees. IEEE Std 1023-1988 is an upper tier document which defines the human factors tasks required to support the integration of human performance into the design process. The standard was reaffirmed in January 1995 and is to be revised within the next two years. Presently, three lower tier documents, in various stages of development, expand upon the upper tier standard. IEEE Std 845-1988 (in revision) presents methods for measurement of human performance. IEEE Std 1082 (final approval pending) deals with the human reliability analysis aspects of probabilistic risk assessment. IEEE Std 1289 (final approval pending) presents human factors guidance for design of computer-based display systems. In addition to producing and maintaining human factors standards, SC-7 has sponsored a series of conferences on human factors in power plants. "Human Factors in Power Generation: A Global Perspective", continues the series.