Prediction and Assessment of Human Errors in Control Room of a Steam Power Plant by SHERPA Method in 2021

Abstract

Background: Human errors are considered as important factor in occurrence of accidents that can leading to death, injuries and damages. The power plant industry as the most important infrastructure industry plays a significant role in industrial infrastructure. Objectives: The present study was carried out with the aim of prediction and assessment of human errors in a control room of a steam power plant by systematic approach to error prediction and reduction (SHERPA) method. Methods: This descriptive – cross sectional study was conducted in a control room of steam power plant. In this research human errors were identified and analyzed by hierarchical task analysis (HTA) and SHERPA methods. Results: In total 85 errors were identificated that 56 (65.1%) action errors, 24 (27.9%) checking errors, 1 (1.2%) retrieval errors, 2 (2.32%) communication errors and 3 (3.48%) were related to selection errors. Results also indicated that already 51% of risk level due to identification errors in unacceptable and undesirable level. Conclusions: The most important identificated errors in this research were related to action errors. In order to minimize of these errors and limitation of their consequence, we can use checklist and proper instructions according to work and educate control room operators.