Human Factors and Safety at Electricite de France

Abstract

This article describes the changes in the ideas that have occurred in the human factors approach at Electricite de France, the publicly owned French utility, which is the largest operator of nuclear power plants in the world. Initially, the approach to human factors was based almost exclusively on enhancing equipment reliability. Recently, problems of teamwork, interface and interaction, and interdepartmental relations have come to the surface, and the initial approach is being supplanted by a new approach based on strengthening professionalism and devel oping a safety quality culture.