Development of methods for nuclear power plant personnel qualifications and training

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has proposed that additions and revisions should be made to Title 10 of the ''Code of Federal Regulations,'' Parts 50 and 55, and to Regulatory Guides 1.8 and 1.149. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is developing methods and some aspects of the technical basis for the implementation and assessment of training programs, personnel qualifications, and simulation facilities to be designed in accordance with the proposed rule changes. The paper describes the three methodologies which were developed during the FY-1984 research. The three methodologies are: (1) a task sort procedure (TSORT); (2) a simulation facility evaluation methodology; and (3) a task analysis profiling system (TAPS). TAPS is covered in detail in this paper. The task analysis profiling system has been designed to support training research. It draws on artificial intelligence concepts of pattern matching to provide an automated task analysis of normal English descriptions of job behaviors. TAPS development consisted of creating a precise method for the definition of skills, knowledge, abilities, and attitudes (SKAA), and generating SKAA taxonomic elements. It systematically outputs skills, knowledge, attitudes, and abilities, and information associated with them