The development of human factors review criteria for future nuclear power plant control rooms

Advanced, computer-based, human-system interface designs are emerging in nuclear power plant control rooms. These developments may have significant implications for plant safety in that they will greatly affect the ways in which operators interact with systems. At present, however, the only guidance available to the nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the review of control room-operator interfaces, NUREG-0700, was written prior to these technological changes and is thus not designed to address them. The objective of the project reported in this paper is to develop an Advanced Control Room Design Review Guideline for use in performing human factors reviews of advanced operator interfaces. This guideline will be implemented, in part, as a portable, computer-based, interactive document for field use. The guideline will describes the overall guideline development methodology, the present status of the document, and the plans for further guideline testing and development