Alarms are typically initiated to notify operator of deviations; actions guided by procedures such as NOPs, AORs, and AOPs. This represents which layer of protection?

• A. Alarms / operator action
• B. Normal automatic controls
• C. Break point
• D. Tech Spec Limit

Answer: (A)

Notifications via alarms followed by operator actions is the layer that relies on human decision-making guided by procedures to restore safe operation. When a parameter deviates from normal, an alarm alerts the operator, who then uses documented procedures (NOPs, AOPs, AORs) to determine and execute the appropriate corrective actions. This distinguishes it from purely automatic controls, which act without human input, and from thresholds like tech spec limits or break points, which define limits or triggering boundaries rather than the human-guided response to deviations.