Reducing human error involves far more than taking disciplinary action against an individual. A range of measures is more effective controls, including the design of the equipment, job, procedures, and training.
Actions for overcoming Active Failures
Slips and Lapses
Design improvement is the most effective route for eliminating the cause of this type of human error. For example, typical problems with controls and displays that cause this type of error include:
- Switches that are too close and can be inadvertently switched on or off;
- Displays that force the user to bend or stretch to read them properly;
- Critical displays not in the operators’ field of view;
- Poorly designed gauges;
- Displays that are cluttered with non-essential information and are difficult to read.
Mistakes
Training for individuals and teams is the most effective way to reduce mistake-type human errors. The risk of this type of human error will be decreased if the trainee understands the need for and benefits from safe plans and actions rather than simply being able to recite the steps parrot fashion. Training should be based on defined training needs and objectives and evaluated to see if it has had the desired improvement in performance.
Violations
There is no single best avenue for reducing the potential for deliberate deviations from safe rules and procedures. The avenues for reducing the probability of violations should be considered in terms of those which reduce an individual’s motivation to violate. These include:
- Under-estimation of the risk
- Real or perceived pressure from the boss t adopt poor work practices;
- Pressure from work-mates to adopt their poor working practices;
- Cutting corners to save time and effort
Addressing Latent Failures
The organization must create an environment in which:
- reduces the benefit to an individual from violating rules.
- Reduces the risk of an operator making slips/lapses and mistakes.
This can be done by identifying and addressing latent failures.
Examples of latent failures include:
- Poor design of plant and equipment;
- Impractical procedures,
- Ineffective training;
- Inadequate supervision;
- Ineffective communications; and
- Uncertainties in roles and responsibilities.
One of the principal ways of systematically doing this is through a health and safety management system. This is the subject of the next topic area in this course.