Ann Occup Environ Med.  2018 ;30(1):56. 10.1186/s40557-018-0267-3.

The effect of increasing the illumination on operators' visual performance in the control-room of a combined cycle power plant

• Zakerian S
• Yazdanirad S
• Gharib S
• Azam K
• Zare A

• KMID: 2428622
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0267-3

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Lighting is one of the environmental factors affecting the performance of the control room operators. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the control room operators' visual performance in two different illumination conditions at a combined cycle power plant through field-work.
METHODS
Sixteen operators in day shift were evaluated with the Freiburg Visual Acuity test (FrACT) software at two lighting systems with different intensities. It includes the first phase with fluorescent illumination system (Power: 40 W, Color Temperature: 4000 Kelvin, Luminous Flux: 2780 Lumen and Model: Pars Shahab) and the second phase with a combined illumination system includes fluorescent and LED (Power: 48 W, Color Temperature: 4000 Kelvin, Luminous Flux: 5400 Lumen and Model: Mazinoor).
RESULTS
Based on the results, visual performance index and visual acuity significantly increased after the intervention (p"‰<"‰0.001). As to contrast, more lighting significantly reduced the percentage of recognized contrast (p"‰<"‰0.001) and increased the contrast performance index (p"‰<"‰0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study showed that increasing the intensity of light from the values below the allowable limit to the values above the allowable limit would increase the visual indicators in individuals.

Keyword

Lighting; Control room; Visual performance; Visual acuity; Power plant

MeSH Terms

Lighting*
Power Plants*
Visual Acuity