ABSTRACT
INITIAL HUMAN FACTORS REQUIREMENTS NRC interest in human factors issues associated with nuclear power plant (NPP) control rooms came into existence following the Three Mile Island Unit 2 accident in 1979. The NRC Action Plan (NRC, 1980) developed in response to the incident required NPP licensees and license applicants to perform detailed control room design reviews (DCRDRs) to identify and correct HFE design deficiencies. These reviews included assessment of control room layout, adequacy of the information provided, arrangement and identification of the important controls and displays, usefulness of the alarm system, information recording and recall capability, lighting, and other human factors considerations that have an impact on operator effectiveness and plant safety (Ramey-Smith, 1985).
