Improving control room design and operations based on human factors analyses or how much human factors upgrade is enough?

The Jose Cabrera nuclear power plant is a one loop Westinghouse pressurized water reactor. In the control room, the displays and controls used by operators for the emergency operating procedures are distributed on front and back panels. This configuration contributed to risk in the probabilistic safety assessment where important operator actions are required. This study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of the design on crew performance and plant safety and to develop design improvements. Five potential effects were identified. Then NUREG-0711, programmatic, human factors, analyses were conducted to systematically evaluate the CR-layout to determine if there was evidence of the potential effects. These analyses included operating experience review, PSA review, task analyses, and walkthrough simulations. Based on the results of these analyses, a variety of control room modifications were identified. From the alternatives, a selection was made that provided a reasonable balance between performance, risk and economics, and modifications were made to the plant.