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Risk of error is always present when man is asked to work with a machine or complex
operating system or within a high-stress environment. The nature of accidents cause us to constantly assess the impact of
human error on system design and, conversely, the manner in which equipment improves or degrades man's ability to control
a process. This man-machine relationship exists at the consoles, within the screens of information, in the entirety
of the workstation and throughout the environment of the control room itself.
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The first line of defense against errors is, of course, at the system level. The operator's
work load must be reasonable and well understood. Is the operator provided with the controls and displays he needs to respond
in an orderly and timely fashion? Beyond system design, an ergonomically sound workstation should be considered a necessity.
Controls must be with easy reach and screens legible and well within the operators' normal sight lines. Dedicated devices
must be grouped according to the needs of each specific process. A carefully configured series of consoles must be positioned
to accurately represent the operators' cognitive map of the process itself.
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The architectural space and support systems must provide for these console arrangements
without glare and reflections on the screens or inappropriate traffic flows. The utility of the control room is also expressed
through the architectural finishes, materials color and acoustics - all of which directly affect operator performance.
CRD's experience in more than forty control room programs has convinced us that a control system can only be considered truly
integrated if the diverse elements of the system, console and architectural setting are planned around, and for, the operator.
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