Advanced human-system interface design review guideline. Evaluation procedures and guidelines for human factors engineering reviews

Abstract

Advancedcontrol rooms will use advancedhuman-systeminterface(HSI) technologies thatmay have significant implications for plant safety in that they will affect the operator's overall role in the system, the method of informationpresentation,andthe ways in which operatorsinteractwith the system. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reviews the HSI aspects of control rooms to ensure that they are designed to good humanfactors engineeringprinciplesand that operatorperformance and reliability are appropriately supported to protect public health and safety. The principal guidance availableto the NRC, however, was developedmore than ten years ago, well before these technological changes. Accordingly, the human factorsguidance needs to be updatedto serve as the basis for NRC review of these advanced designs. The purpose of this project was to develop a general approach to advanced H$1 review and the human factors guidelines to support NRC safety reviews of advanced systems. This two-volume report provides the results of the project. Volume 1 describes the development of the Advanced HSI Design Review Guideline (DRG) including (1) its theoretical and technicalfoundation, (2) a general model for the review of advanced HSIs, (3) guideline development in both hard-copyand computer-basedversions, and (4) the tests and evaluationsperformed to develop and validate the DRG. Volume 1 also includes a discussion of the gaps in available guidance and a methodology for addressingthem. Volume 2 providesthe guidelinesto be used for advancedHSIreview and the proceduresfor their use.

Human Factors in Control Room Modernisation

“…For evaluation of the digital HSIs in the conventional MCR subjectively and objectively, two methods, including a checklist based on NUREG-0700 6 and an Interview Questionnaire from NUREG/CR-6749, 14 were applied in this study. The methods are introduced in detail as follows.…”

“…NUREG-0700, 6 the Human–System Interface Design Review Guideline, was developed to provide HFE guidance to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It describes those aspects of the HSI design review process that are important to the identification and resolution of human engineering discrepancies that could adversely affect plant safety.…”

“…It describes those aspects of the HSI design review process that are important to the identification and resolution of human engineering discrepancies that could adversely affect plant safety. NUREG-0700 6 also provides detailed HFE guidelines for the assessment of HSI design implementation. In the development of NUREG-0700, 15 revision 1, published in 1996, several topics were identified as “gaps” due to insufficient technical bases upon which to develop guidance.…”

“…One such topic was the integration of advanced HSI technology into conventional MCRs. Therefore, NUREG-0700, 6 revision 2, published in 2002, included additional topics (e.g. Safety Function and Parameter Monitoring System, Soft Control System, Computer-based Procedure System, and Maintainability of Digital Systems) addressing advanced HSI technology in order to eliminate these gaps.…”

“…The staff of the plant can refer to NUREG-0711 to draw up plans with comprehensive dimensions and strict procedures for HFE evaluation. Moreover, NUREG-0700 6 is focused on providing the details of HFE guidelines necessary to perform HSI evaluations. The HFE guidelines are organized into four basic parts, which are divided into sections.…”