Human Factors Considerations for Implementation of A “Green Board” Concept in an Existing “Red/Green” Power Plant Control Room

Abstract

Various human factors issues have been raised in recent years concerning the operability of nuclear power plant control rooms. The plethora of status indicator lights which must be monitored effectively has prompted the development of alternative control board design layouts to increase ease of operation. A study was conducted to address the feasibility of implementing the “green board” concept in a nuclear power plant control room which has an existing “red/green” board. The research included a comparison of current control room display and design concepts as well as an identification of the impact that the “green board” modification could have upon various aspects of daily plant operation. Recommendations based on the information gathered during the study specify that existing control rooms should be modified to incorporate the “green board” concept for more effective operation. In addition, a recommendation was made that further research should be conducted to investigate the following parameters: (1) detection time, (2) the effects of stress, training and different approaches to computerizing status indicators on operability; and (3) CRT color-coding compatability during off-normal operation.