Analyzing the staffing and workload in the main control room of the advanced nuclear power plant from the human information processing perspective

This study developed a subject-based questionnaire for the task analysis of the main control room (MCR) based on the human information processing (HIP) perspective, and then examined the effectiveness and the involvement of information presentations and task operations in constructing a staffing model. Their influences on operator workloads and implications to staffing were also discussed. The personnel from the advanced nuclear power plant in Taiwan were selected as the target sample. A Total of 81 valid questionnaires were analyzed. The results showed that the different stages of HIP were positively correlated with each other. Furthermore, there were significantly different “perception”, “cognition”, “vocal response”, and “workload” between the shift supervisor, reactor operator, and assistant reactor operator. The results also showed the processing stage with higher cognition, vocal response, and workload has significantly higher intention of staffing demand. This result suggests that the staffing levels are significantly dependent on whether there is heavy and complicated team cognition and communication. According to the results, three conclusions were gathered. First, there was a difference between the stages of HIP and workload for the operators depending on their staffing responsibilities. Second, the stages of HIP and workload only appeared to be highly related, but they could not interpret or displace each other. Third, the intention of the staffing demand of the operator was correlated with how they were involved in the HIP stages.

► This study developed a subjective questionnaire based on the human information processing (HIP) perspective.
► The subjective questionnaire was examined to have good validity and reliability.
► The subjective questionnaire can be applied on preliminary evaluation of the mental tasks and staffing level.