Is double checking twice as safe? Investigating the efficacy of peer-checking in the nuclear industry

Peer-checking, also called cross-checking or double-checking, is a commonly used, and widely accepted, method of enhancing error capture and improving safety within high-risk industries. However, this approach to safety has been questioned, with researchers highlighting a lack of evidence to support, or refute, the use of peer checking as an appropriate safety mechanism for preventing error.

Given the reliance on peer-checking within the nuclear power industry, the efficacy of this method and any influencing factors have therefore become a key concern for the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). This is particularly pertinent given the currently limited guidance available for developing appropriate peer-checking protocols; meaning that approaches to peer-checking currently vary across the industry.

There is a defined need for research directly examining the efficacy of peer-checking protocols and their impact on error capture within the nuclear industry. Such research has the capacity to develop our understanding of peer-checking and its impacts (both positive and negative), enabling the development of more accurate models of peer-checking processes, and directly impacting guidance for peer-checking protocols across nuclear and broader safety-critical industry. The proposed project will have the following aims:

- Evaluate the efficacy of peer-checking protocols as a safety and error capture tool within the nuclear industry. - Consider the impact of key performance influencing factors on peer-checking protocols. - Collaboratively develop peer-checking guidance with ONR.