Using participatory ergonomics to improve nuclear equipment design

Inadequate human–system integration reduces safety, increases the overall complexity of the equipment, the time needed to perform tasks, the likelihood of human errors and complicates user training. Participatory ergonomics emphasizes the involvement of a multidisciplinary team to identify design goals, to actively participate in equipment development, to make decisions and to solve problems. The aims are to guarantee the participation of the multidisciplinary team in all phases of the design process; to improve operational reliability; and to design reliable and robust equipment, so that task demands can be compatible with human capabilities. This paper proposes a methodology for the design of nuclear equipment. The fluorometer is a device which measures an unknown amount of uranium. It is used in chemical analysis laboratories and nuclear research institutes. The approach of this paper is the application of participatory ergonomics principles, including a description of procedures and methods which are linked together to undertake the fluorometer design.

► Inadequate human–system integration reduces the safety and complicates training.
► Inadequate human–system integration increases the human errors occurrence.
► Participatory ergonomics emphasizes the involvement of a multidisciplinary group.
► Participatory ergonomics involves users collaborating in the equipment design.
► The multidisciplinary team assists in analyzing and identifying ergonomic problems.