Human Reliability Assessment Theory and Practice

Human Reliability Assessment Theory and Practice
Anthony J. Spurgin | 2009-10-08 00:00:00 | CRC Press | 304 | Engineering

A continually evolving discipline, Human Reliability Assessment (HRA) has elements of controversy from the definition of terms to the application of appropriate methods for the representation of human failure probability. The idea that human error is a random event is falling out of favor and the concept that humans can be set up to fail or succeed depending on context is gaining credibility. An in-depth exploration of current theories, Human Reliability Assessment Theory and Practice demonstrates how to model, change, and apply new approaches to a number of different high-risk industries.

The book covers data and data sources, choice of methods, training of individuals, use of simulators for HRA purposes, and the relationship between psychology, human factors, accident analyses, and human reliability. Author Anthony Spurgin has been in the forefront of HRA development for the past 20 years and has contributed to developing Human Reliability methods and tools that have been applied to the enhancement of nuclear power plant and space vehicle safety. He explores reactor performance and the demands it makes on operators to ensure plant safety. He also covers the roles of plant management in the decision-making applied to both design and operation. The book includes a number of accident studies that illustrate the key roles of operators and managers in accident mitigation and control.

The heart of HRA will always be to find creative ways of helping designers, management, operators, and authorities increase the safety and profitability of technological systems. Drawing on his personal experience, Spurgin reviews HRA from the viewpoint of the operator. The book uses examples from the nuclear industry, always on the forefront of safety, and translates how to apply the concepts to other high risk industries.

Reviews
This book is an excellent description of HRA including its evolution and the current tools and methods that are used in HRA community today. Pros and cons of each method are discussed. The case studies described in the book are very informative and shows how HRA can be applied to prevent accidents or mitigate accidents. One concern that I have is the issue of reproducability,.i.e., can two qualfied analysts or team of analysts produce the same results or be able to reconcile differences if they exist. This issue underscores the importance of peer review by qualified SMEs. In general, peer review is important in the field of probabilistic risk assessment.
Reviews
Review of Human Reliability Assessment: Theory and Practice by Anthony J. Spurgin





This is a well-written, concise book that provides a very informative and insightful treatment of Human Reliability Assessment (HRA). I would recommend it to anyone who is responsible for design, operation, and management of complex systems. At the heart of the book is a review of some of the catastrophic accidents that have occurred in various industries, such as the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl nuclear plants, the Bhopal chemical plant, and the Space Shuttle illustrating how plant conditions, training, procedures, or management decisions led the human operators to perform unsafe acts. These same events are then re-examined through an application of an HRA to demonstrate how HRA methods can be applied to prevent or reduce the likelihood of such catastrophic events.



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