Re-design of a multi-operator control room based on workload analysis

This report of a practical application shows how a thorough workload analysis can be used to re-design a control room in such a way that it allows for a balanced workload, for effective handling of critical events and for future operations with reduced staffing. The study was conducted in 1996 at the Demkolec power plant in Buggenum, The Netherlands, which utilises the process of coal gasification. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the productivity of the plant employees (both in the control room and outside). An important part of this study, described in this report, was the evaluation of the control room. The relevant considerations were: a) the quantity of operators necessary to control the different processes; b) the necessary qualifications for these operators (not discussed here); and c) the necessary adaptations to the control room. We examined the workload, the influence if various operating situations on the workload, the physical layout of the control room; the applied technology, and the commitment of the operators.