This is worth five minutes of our time! Human Factors(s) can be a massive driver of safety performance. This five-minute video from the Energy Institute does a great job of explaining what HF is all about. HF has been involved in just about every accident investigation I have been involved with. We must understand how…...
Human Factors (Energy Institute Video) Read More »
This case is a classic example of how Latent Organizational Failures INFLUENCE the decision-making of workers (and middle managers). At the end of this press release, the DOJ admits that “Company management had informed some of its employees that if operations came to a halt, the company would suffer serious financial harm, potentially including dissolution.”…...
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Human Factors (error trap) pic of the month Read More »
A video I posted over two years ago has come full circle. A citizen (some may call him homeless) was allowed to sit (and smoke) within 20′ of a gasoline tanker unloading operation at a gas station. His actions may not have been his sole demise, as we can see in the video evidence that…...
Failing to control flammable vapor results in severe injuries for by-stander (video) Read More »
We MUST never be too confident of our written SOPs/JSAs. There is a good reason why “Administrative Controls” are down on the Hierarchy of Controls. When we think our SOPs/Plans are infallible, our workers will show us a thing or two… And when we investigate adverse events and this leads us to “failure to follow…...
Never be too confident of our written SOPs/JSAs Read More »
There’s a massive difference that may require massively different approaches in how we respond to failures in administrative controls such as LOTO. Scenario #1: a worker with less than a year of experience, is tasked with isolating a PRCS that has 29 isolation points. It was his first time to do this isolation and was…...
Learning Opportunity vs Discipline Read More »
I came across this arrangement, and we debated the position of this valve for 20 minutes, and 7 of us never came to an agreement. We even looked at other tanks that had this valve, and they were different. The valve shown below had its handle reversed as the tank’s ladder was in the way…...
Human Factors – Valve Positions Read More »
I have shared many funny and confusing safety signs and labels. This one is another example of how NOT to write your warning label. Not only is it the LAST of six warnings, but can you see anything else with its failure… THANKS, Travis Rhoden, MS, CSP… Membership Required You must be a member to...
More fun with Warning Label language Read More »
You have to wonder if the creator(s) knew exactly what they were doing or if they were totally clueless. But what do you see when you look at the Emergency Exit map Of The Marriott Marquis San Diego. Thanks to ___________ (who wished to remain anonymous – why I am not sure) for their contribution…....
WARNING! ADULT SAFETY CONTENT – Egress Map Read More »
I am a Toyota Tundra loyalist, but every vehicle has “quirks” that make me scratch my head and wonder, “What were they thinking”? As a side note, I drove many rental vehicles when traveling a lot at the peak of my consulting. It would take me 1-2 minutes to get my seat and mirrors set;…...
Human Factors are what “makes more sense” to us to REDUCE errors and mistake Read More »
Although this advisory circular is for Commercial Human Space Flight, it can be applied to High-Risk activities in an industrial setting, such as process safety matters. The single most significant gap I see in past PHAs is the Human Factor(s) analyses. In some cases, I cannot even recognize the methodology used in the PHA. In…...
Human Factors Considerations in Commercial Human Space Flight Read More »
Understanding the basics of the ABC model is a MUST for safety professionals, even if your organization is not ready for a formal Behavior Based Safety Process (BBSP). This simple model will enlighten many and help them understand WHY workers and management do what they do. Seasoned safety pros will often focus far too much…...
Understanding the basics of the ABC model is a MUST for safety professionals Read More »
