Application of a portable microcomputer mental acuity battery forfitness-for-duty assessment in power plant operations

摘要

Because a need exists for assessment of fitness-for-duty in powerplants, several microcomputer-based mental acuity test batteries areunder development for objective assessment of human performance overrepeated measures. One of these, the Automated Performance Test System(APTS), has been shown to be sensitive to various environments andtreatments and could prove useful for this purpose. The authors reviewthe rationale for the development of APTS and experience with thestability, reliability, and sensitivity of the menu of tests. Thescientific and statistical justification for the use of surrogate andembedded techniques in operational settings is discussed. Specifically,the instrumentation described is sensitive to the extent of alcohol anddrug-related impairment