ABSTRACT
Operators report that, in alarm handling, when they observe the onset of an alarm, they accept it and make a fairly rapid analysis of whether it should be ignored (route 1), reset (route 2), monitored (route 3), dealt with superficially (route 4), or requires further investigation (route 5). If it cannot be cleared (by superficial intervention), then they may also go into an investigative mode (route 6). In the penultimate mode, the operators will monitor the status of the plant brought about by their corrective actions and ultimately reset the alarm. Routine behavior has a “ready-made” response, whereas critical behavior needs knowledge-based, deductive reasoning. The taxonomy (observe, accept, analyze, investigate, correct, monitor, and reset) is proffered as a working description of alarm handling behavior, rather than intending to represent a fully validated psychological model.
