Ergonomic Design of a Main Control Room of Radioactive Waste Facility Using Digital Human Simulation

Abstract

The present study evaluated a preliminary main control room (MCR) design of radioactive waste facility using the JACK^® digital human simulation system. Four digital humanoids (5^th, 50^th, 95^th, and 99^th percentiles) were used in the ergonomic evaluation. The first three were selected to represent 90% of the target population (Korean males aged 20 to 50 years) and the last to reflect the secular trend of stature for next 20 years in South Korea. The preliminary MCR design was assessed by checking its compliance to ergonomic guidelines specified in NUREG-0700 and conducting an in-depth ergonomic analysis with a digital prototype of the MCR design and the digital humanoids in terms of postural comfort, reachability, visibility, and clearance. For identified design problems, proper design changes and their validities were examined using the JACK. A revised MCR design suggested in the present study would contribute to effective and safe operations of the MCR as well as operators’ health in the workplace.

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