Abstract
Ergonomics has been present in offshore platforms design, aiming at introducing work logics in the workplace conception process. Due to its importance for a good performance and operation of offshore platforms, control rooms are usually analyzed with the intention to improve working conditions even in operation platforms. The objective of this paper is to present some basic principles for offshore platforms control rooms design. These principles were generated from six ergonomic intervention cases in offshore control rooms with one to eight years of operation.
The elaboration of basic principles for offshore control rooms design intends to guarantee that designers have access to required relevant information in relation to the real needs of these environments.
Based on norms and general recommendations knowledge, previous control rooms design experience, and work analysis in control rooms now in operation, it was possible to identify some common typical characteristics. In turn, these characteristics gave origin to basic principles that can serve as guides to control room design projects (either new rooms or under renovation ones) on other offshore platforms.
Ergonomic interventions in offshore platforms control rooms design projects have become more frequent and have proven to be efficient in improving working conditions. The methodological approach used in ergonomic interventions highlighted the importance of users’ participation in the construction of proposed solutions and principles.
