Control Room Design – Could We Have Anticipated a Pandemic?

Unusual times raise awareness of risks to our operations that are often ignored, or at best, considered of lesser importance. The current pandemic is a significant example of this, and we are seeing companies taking unusual steps to ensure the safety of their employees while struggling with the need to keep plants running. To meet these goals in a timely manner, we have seen some inventive and unique solutions and even the questioning of standard practices, such as centralized control rooms. However, an important question should be ‘could we have been ready for this?’. An obvious focus is on the control room, although this is only part of the solution. This paper discusses a best practice approach to the design of new, or redesign of existing facilities. If followed, we believe this process can effectively identify, consider and mitigate plausible risks at all stages in the design process and address not only the physical aspects of the design, but also supporting work practices.