Introduction of human physical measurements in the early design of a nuclear main control room

A nuclear main control room (MCR) is a crucial part of a nuclear power plant (NPP) where qualified staffs are monitoring and controlling the function and productivity of the whole plant. In a safely operated NPP, the performance of MCR personnel is critical. A properly designed MCR and human-system interface (HSI) is central to safe and efficient operations of the plant, since it reduces the occurrence of incidents, accidents and the risks of human related errors; thus, the physical characteristics of the users must be considered in the design of the MCR, taking into account the height and size of those users. The design of large display panels, control consoles, vertical control panels, and machinery rooms must be adequately designed, and the application of the anthropometric principles in all design stages of the MCR is crucial. When human anthropometry is taken into considerations in the design process, the MCR suits better the capabilities and limitations of the operators. During the design process, manufacturers and designers should consider the sizes, shapes, abilities, and constraints of the people for whom they are designing the MCR since anthropometric data varies significantly between different communities in various geographical territories.