ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses all human-plant interactions in the plant operation. The human factor discipline is concerned with designing machines, operations, and work environment to match human capabilities and limitations. The human factor expertise was almost exclusively applied to military system developments. The chapter presents some criteria on human error classification, the element which may influence the human error probability, the meaning of the so-called integrated human factor program in the design of industrial plants. It provides an overview on issues, problems, and solutions for control room design, plant maintainability, and the procedure used to correctly select and train operators, guideline procedures to operate the plant. The chapter outlines some qualitative aspects considering the human being as a system component, interacting with the other components by means of maintenance, calibration, testing, and normal operation and coping with those unusual events that place a system at risk.
