Human error: A crucial problem at nuclear power stations

The author contradicts the argument of purely human error with reference to the report of the Kemeny Commission on the incident on Three Mile Island-Reactor 2. He draws a diametrically opposite conclusion to one of the Kemeny Commission's conclusions: If the TMI plant had incorporated satisfactory engineering, then with the same human errors the same consequences would not have occurred. If the interface between man and machine is designed according to today's knowledge and the strengths and weaknesses of human beings are regarded as counterbalancing each other, human error will no longer be a crucial problem at the nuclear power station. (orig.)