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..Ergonomics
Applications
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 We
believe that it is important to have
a clearly defined approach to quality
assurance. Therefore, we have a quality
assurance policy that is specifically
tailored to the requirements of different
projects. This ensures that the highest
possible standards are maintained
in all our work.
We
always seek to develop a quality assurance
plan at the start of any project,
which fully complies with our client's
own procedures and documentation.
We have carefully considered QA standards
such as ISO 9000, and we have concluded
that they are inappropriate for our
work.
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| Assessment of operating procedures | |
Operating procedures are possibly the single most robust engineered item after user interfaces to ensure safe and reliable operation of potentially hazardous systems. Synergy are very experienced in the assessment of procedures. This is often done as a part of well-integrated ergonomics design work.- Simulator evaluation of operating procedures for Sizewell `B`.
- Ergonomics assessment of selected operator-claimed safety actions at Sizewell `B`.
- Full team walk-throughs of emergency procedures.
- Task analyses of critical safety actions identified in the Long Term Safety Reviews for Oldbury Trawsfynydd and Wylfa Power Stations (UK Magnox gas-cooled nuclear power plant).
- Evaluation of safety procedures in UK nuclear power plants.
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| Assessment of other human-machine interfaces | |
Despite the prevalence of VDUs and computers in modern technology, other forms of user interface can be equally important. Indeed, in safety-critical systems they are generally expected to be more reliable and robust than computer-based technology. Synergy consultants often work on such systems.- Study of new systems for human-machine interaction in European Electricity Utilities.
- Survey of the design and development process for new human-machine interfaces in European power utilities.
- Assessment of internal communications facilities to support critical fault procedures.
- Task analysis of a fuel reprocessing plant.
- Assessment of a feasibility study of an objective categorisation of air traffic control facilities at airfields.
- Assessment of nuclear refuelling facilities.
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| Assessment of VDU formats or displays | |
These are often the main means by which operators monitor and control potentially hazardous processes. They are being increasingly used in defence and transportation systems. It follows that these user interfaces must be very clearly understood and the user must be able to navigate from place to place very quickly and easily. Synergy consultants specialise in this work and have recognised expertise in this area of ergonomics. Amongst many others we have designed and assessed:- Assessment of computerised display and control facilities of proposed design for Sizewell B Lungmen Nuclear Power Plants.
- Assessment of VDU formats for Didcot `B` and Killingholme (UK combined cycle gas turbine, power plant).
- Review of software interfaces for grid despatch and operational tripping schemes in a National Grid regional control centre.
- Development of generic guidelines and specifications for the display of power plant process information on VDUs to optimize staff performance and minimize errors.
- Ergonomics assessment of design guidelines for computer-based control and display facilities for Pembroke Power Station (UK orimulsion power plant).
- The review of SCADA styles guides and prototype formats.
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| Design and assessment work on alarm systems | |
Alarm systems are vital to the safe management of process faults. All too often they are not well designed and poor alarms systems have often led to disaster! Our work has included:- The experimental evaluation of the intelligibility and discriminability of different auditory alarms for a control room.
- Development of an experimental method to determine the rate at which operators could read and interpret alarm messages.
- The assessment and re-design of a process alarm system to avoid alarm flooding.
- The development of practical method for the analysisand reduction of alarms.
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| Development of engineering design guidelines | |
Design guidelines are produced by Synergy to assist design engineers and managers in the consistent and effective design of tasks and user interfaces.- Development of guidelines for the design of VDU formats for combined cycle gas turbine power plants.
- Development of guidelines for touch controlled displays.
- Specification of human-machine interface design requirements for thermal power plants.
- Development of guidelines for maintenance tasks in the nuclear industry.
- Development of guidelines for the presentation of written procedures in the nuclear industry
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| Human reliability assessments | |
Human reliability assessment is the science (or some would say the art) of assessing how well people will perform with minimized error in a given task or situation. This is mainly applied to emergency scenarios or other tasks that are critical to safety. These techniques are used in the nuclear, aviation, chemical and offshore oil industry, rail and marine sectors. These methods are now beginning to be adapted for use in the defence sector. Synergy believe that such assessment can only be informed and effective when it is based upon good quality task analysis and a deep understanding of the task performer and their work. Our work has included:- A task analysis and human reliability assessment of the risks of human error in the inspection of rail freight wagons.
- Reviews on behalf of the IAEA and the South Korean Government of human reliability assessments.
- Reviews on behalf of the UK HSE Nuclear Safety Directorate of human reliability safety cases.
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Maintenance is one area of ergonomics knowledge where there is still much to be learnt about how to design and manage maintenance tasks. Synergy have especial expertise in this area. We have undertaken:-
Generic task analysis of power station maintenance tasks.
- Evaluation of maintenance facilities and procedures for Sizewell `B`.
- Task analysis of a method of safety valve testing in the nuclear industry
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Maintenance is one area of ergonomics knowledge where there is still much to be learnt about how to design and manage maintenance tasks. Synergy have especial expertise in this area. We have undertaken:- Generic task analysis of power station maintenance tasks.
- Evaluation of maintenance facilities and procedures for Sizewell `B`.
- Task analysis of a method of safety valve testing in the nuclear industry.
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Some level of stress is desirable to achieve an optimum level of performance. No one performs well if they are bored or have too little to do. However, too much stress degrades a person`s performance and in the longer term can affect health. It is therefore important that the factors affecting how a person is stressed are well understood.- Ergonomics review of three specific stressors that could affect control room operators.
- Ergonomics review of factors which could influence operator stress.
- Ergonomics investigation of acute stressors in nuclear power plants.
- Ergonomics invesitgations of stressors affecting the likelihood of error within a military system.
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For aircraft and nuclear power plants, simulators are the now-standard means to ensure that personnel can deal with technical emergencies. Synergy have assisted in their effective use.
Investigation into the approaches used to assess the effectiveness of simulator training.-
Investigation of training for infrequent and/or stressful events.
- Report on methods by which power plant training simulators could be exploited to provide detailed data on human performance.
- Studies of operator stress when handling emergencies.
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