Local Control Stations

Local control stations (LCSs) are human-system interfaces in process control facilities that are located in the plant as opposed to in the main control room. The objective of this project was to evaluate human engineering at local control stations (LCSs) in nuclear power plants and to identify good human engineering practices relevant to the design of these operator interfaces.

General literature and reports of operating experience were reviewed to determine the extent and type of human engineering deficiencies at LCSs in nuclear power plants. In-plant assessments were made of human engineering at single-function as well as multifunction LCSs. Besides confirming the existence of human engineering deficiencies at LCSs, the in-plant assessments provided information about the human engineering upgrades that have been made at nuclear power plants. Upgrades were typically the result of any of three influences: regulatory activity, broad industry initiatives, and specific in-plant programs (e.g., activities related to training). It was concluded that the quality of LCSs was quite variable and might be improved if there were greater awareness of existing good practices and human engineering guidance relevant to these operator interfaces.

To make such human engineering guidance more readily accessible, guidelines were compiled from such sources. This guidance was included in NUREG-0700, Rev.1.

Last Modified: February 1, 2008

One of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE's Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by the Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.

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