Entry requirements

High-school diploma and at least 3 years of relevant work experience from working within the nuclear field. Previous university studies are an advantage.

Learning outcomes

After passing the course, students will be able to:

• select and apply tools, methods and techniques to improve safety and productivity in work systems
• explain and analyse the complexities of interaction between technology, humans and organisational processes
• integrate complex human and organisational aspects in the design and operation of engineering systems
• conduct critical reviews of work systems in terms of human factors and organisational aspects
• explain design processes and account for defined activities in different phases of a design project
• assess risks associated with the negligence of critical man-technology-organisation interfaces
• explain and discuss human factors (HF) design-work methods including the use of virtual reality tools

Content

Design of Human-Machine Interface (HMI) in nuclear power plants, demonstration. The Man-Technology-Organisation perspective (MTO). Comparison of the MTO perspective with alternative perspectives and approaches. Human factors in modern technical system design and operations. Technological perspectives on unwanted events, including central concepts like barriers, human error, and how organisational factors affect human performance. Methods for analysing events. HF tools and how to use these in industry

application of HF methods to increase safety in control-room work. Principles of user-centred design, verification & validation, and human performance. The user-centred design process, supporting human factors needs. Safety and human performance (organisational factors in design). Operating models and capabilities (organisational factors in design). Interaction design: designing high performance, safety-oriented displays. Control room design and ergonomics. Verification and validation processes and tools.

Instruction

Individual distance studies and campus-based teaching. All campus-based teaching will be conducted on site at the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) in Halden, Norway. A combination of theoretical and practical methods and techniques will be included in the course as well as utilizing Virtual Reality (VR) in control room design.

Assessment

Hand-in exercises (3 credits) and oral presentations (3 credits). Presence at all lectures and lessons at IFE is necessary to pass the course.