Empirical investigation of communication characteristics under a computer-based procedure in an advanced control room

Abstract

With the development of computer-based control rooms including a computer-based procedure (CBP), shift supervisors (SSs) can directly access plant information through a CBP or personal displays instead of depending on other board operators (BOs) to obtain plant information. In relation to this change, we examined the characteristics of SS inquiry patterns in the computer-based control rooms of nuclear power plants during emergency situations. Operator behaviors and speech patterns were observed and analyzed through several experiments on simulated accident scenarios in a full-scope simulator for an advanced computer-based main control room. We found that the SS inquiry in the advanced control room had less dependency on the BOs, and that the inquiry patterns varied according to the operators and operating dates. From these findings, the necessity to establish communication standards under computer-based control rooms was discussed with some recommendations. Another requirement to reduce the cognitive workload of SSs was also discussed.Keywords: crew communication; computer-based control room; computer-based procedure; human error IntroductionRecently, there has been prompt research in developing computer-based systems, including human-system interfaces in the main control rooms of nuclear power plants (NPPs) [1,2]. O'Hara et al. introduced the characteristics of computer-based systems, which can integrate various types of information into a legible interface and present them to an individual [3]. For example, a computer-based procedure (CBP) allows operators to easily search or identify parameters or states of plants by presenting the relevant parameters in a given procedure. Because of this function of the CBP, an operator can operate power plants by simply following up the CBP rather than finding the parameters from instruments or indicators.On the other hand, the introduction of a CBP can influence the behaviors of the operating crew conducting the required operations based on the operating procedures. During emergency situations in a conventional main control room, a shift supervisor (SS) generally proceeds with emergency operation procedures (EOPs) and requests information from board operators (BOs) to obtain information relevant to the current plant states [4]. The SS also controls the plants

An integrated computer-based procedure for teamwork in digital nuclear power plants

“…When teams perform procedures under emergency, the existing CBPs provide only the information relevant to individual operators' responsibilities but no information about the status and progress of other team members. This deficiency may harm team performance and system safety by reducing the 'openness of interaction' between team members (Kim et al 2012;Roth and O'Hara 1999;O'Hara and Higgins 2010;O'Hara et al 2000). Furthermore, the digitalisation of the system also reduces the possibility that operator obtain information about team members by observing the physical workspace.…”