Safety and human factors considerations in control rooms of oil and gas pipeline systems: conceptual issues and practical observations.
All oil and gas pipeline systems are run by human operators (called controllers) who use computer-based workstations in control rooms to "control" pipelines. Several human factor elements could contribute to the lack of controller success in preventing or mitigating pipeline accidents/incidents. These elements exist in both the work environment and also in the computer system design/operation (such as data presentation and alarm configuration). Some work environment examples include shift hours, shift length, circadian rhythms, shift change-over processes, fatigue countermeasures, ergonomics factors, workplace distractions, and physical interaction with control system computers. The major objective of this paper is to demonstrate the critical effects of human and organizational factors and also to highlight the role of their interactions with automation (and automated devices) in the safe operation of complex, large-scale pipeline systems. A case study to demonstrate the critical role of human organizational factors in the control room of an oil and gas pipeline system is also presented.
Department of Civil/Environmental Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089-2531, USA. meshkati@usc.edu
Najmedin
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Meshkati
D000056:Accident Prevention; D001331:Automation; D006804:Ergonomics; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D005648:Fuel Oils; D007221:Industry; D016272:Occupational Health; D014481:United States
D005579:Fossil Fuels; D005648:Fuel Oils