An evaluation of human error in control room

Abstract

Background: Operators of control rooms in industrial settings are in charge of safety of the personnel and preservation of expensive equipment. Such responsibility can be a source of stress and higher risk of human error at work. The present paper is an attempt to evaluate the factors effective on human errors in control room operation. Methodology: Hierarchical task analysis technique was used for data analysis. To estimate possibility of human error, Human Error Assessment and Reduction Technique was used with seven steps for each task. Results: Monitoring and controlling operations are critical tasks with high risk of human error. Reducing the risks needs coordination and cooperation at supervision level. Conclusion: In normal situations, operators can handle more than one task at the same time. However, in emergencies, the operators are easily overwhelmed by several tasks and handling all of them is beyond their power. Dealing with such situations needs good cooperation among the participants. Moreover, utilizing computers and software can be helpful for following the instructions that are codified in advance. © 2018 Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.