The next step in deployment of computer based procedures for field workers: Insights and results from field evaluations at nuclear power plants

The paper-based procedures currently used for nearly all activities in the commercial nuclear power industry have a long history of ensuring safe operation of the plants. However, there is potential to greatly increase efficiency and safety by improving how the human interacts with the procedures, which can be achieved through the use of computer-based procedures (CBPs). A CBP system offers a vast variety of improvements, such as context driven job AIDS, integrated human performance tools and dynamic step presentation. The research team at the Idaho National Laboratory has developed a prototype CBP system for field workers, which has been evaluated through a series of laboratory studies. However, a crucial step to get the field workers' acceptance is to put the system in their hands and let them use it as a part of their everyday work activities. A pilot field evaluation of the CBP system was conducted at a nuclear power plant early 2014. The task used in the pilot field evaluation was a functional test of backup air compressors, which is conducted weekly by auxiliary operators. A second field evaluation activity was initiated at a second utility. For this field evaluation a preventive maintenance work order for the HVAC system is used. This paper describes the studies and their results as well as describing the path forward.