INVEST IN IMPROVED VISUAL CONDITIONS IN CONTROL ROOMS!

It will obviously payoff! Operator errors are very expensive and dangerous. Bad design of the operators’ visual conditions increases the risk for mistakes. Design for good visual conditions start with

1. define and design of critical visual tasks (combination of e.g. size and contrast and a lot more) and are joined with
2. the operators working position (partly dependent of the chair) and the line of sight (vertical and horizontal).

These are the most important fundamentals.

Other important factors are the average luminance (brightness) level and variations in luminance (particular in the area around the visual task and behind the operator). Design of light fittings/fixtures or luminaries are also very important to provide illumination and to reduce glare! Design of the provision of daylight and visual contact with outdoor conditions are also important, but very difficult indeed (it demands a separate paper). Very high average luminance level will improve vigilance and arousal. In this way alarm and error handling will be more much efficient. This is very essential at night and early morning shifts.

If you would like to discuss more, call me:

Toni Ivergard,

toni@ivergard.com