Developing a Human Factors Engineering Process for Control Room Upgrades

There is a lot of evidence that complex engineering projects do not always proceed as have been planned. One of the reasons is the lack of socio-technical systemic approach to systems design. The aim of this paper is to present a review of basic principles of HFE in the nuclear domain. Our findings and practical experiences suggest that there are several challenges for successful implementation of HFE work, such as the proper timing of HFE activities, the appropriate sharing of knowledge among designers, HFE experts, and management, and the integration of HFE into the systems engineering process. Some recommendations are offered for a more systematic application of HFE practices in the nuclear domain.