Design-related influencing factors of the computerized procedure system for inclusion into human reliability analysis of the advanced control room

Abstract

This paper presents major design factors of the computerized procedure system (CPS) by task characteristics/requirements, with individual relative weight evaluated by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique, for inclusion into human reliability analysis (HRA) of the advanced control rooms. Task characteristics/ requirements of an individual procedural step are classified into four categories according to the dynamic characteristics of an emergency situation: (1) a single-static step, (2) a single-dynamic and single-checking step, (3) a single-dynamic and continuous-monitoring step, and (4) a multiple-dynamic and continuous-monitoring step. According to the importance ranking evaluation by the AHP technique, 'clearness of the instruction for taking action', 'clearness of the instruction and its structure for rule interpretation', and 'adequate provision of requisite information' were rated as of being higher importance for all the task classifications. Importance of 'adequacy of the monitoring function' and 'adequacy of representation of the dynamic link or relationship between procedural steps' is dependent upon task characteristics. The result of the present study gives a valuable insight on which design factors of the CPS should be incorporated, with relative importance or weight between design factors, into HRA of the advanced control rooms