The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) was developed by Dr. Scott Shappell and Dr. Doug Wiegmann. It is a human error methodology originally used by the US Air Force to investigate and analyze human factors in aviation. Some of you may recognize HFACS in another form, based on James Reason’s Swiss Cheese model. The…...
Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) Read More »
This is intended to be a high-level explanation of an assessment of the human contribution to risk, commonly known as the Human Reliability Assessment (HRA).There are two distinct types of HRA: qualitative assessments that aim to identify potential human failures and optimize the factors that may influence human performance, and quantitative assessments, which, in addition,…...
Conducting a Human Reliability Assessment (HRA) using the Human Error HAZOP Read More »
Dr. Sidney Dekker (Ph.D. in Cognitive Systems Engineering) states there are basically two (2) ways of looking at human error. In this article, I share with you, the first view, which could be called “the bad apple theory“. It maintains that:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a...
Dr. Dekker’s “Two views on Human Error” Read More »
Key Principles in integrating Human Factors in Hazard Identification, Hazard Analysis, and Risk Assessments include:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Key Principles in integrating Human Factors in Risk Assessments Read More »
The strategic approach to improving human performance within safety embraces two (2) primary challenges: Anticipate, Prevent, Catch, and Recover from ACTIVE errors Identify and Eliminate LATENT organizational weaknesses that provoke human error and degrade controls against error and the consequences of error Preventable errors will not be eliminated if opportunities to err are not methodically…...
The strategic approach to improving Human Performance Read More »
Human factors are concerned with optimizing human performance in all tasks and in major hazard workplaces; the primary intention is to achieve safe performance. These high-risk workplaces should have conducted risk assessments and established a range of controls to prevent major accidents. Still, they should also focus on human performance issues to eliminate or reduce…...
An overview of Human Performance Management Read More »
Organizational weaknesses are vulnerabilities, flaws, and defects in controls (engineered, administrative, cultural, and oversight controls). Searching for and eliminating latent organizational weaknesses eliminates factors contributing to significant events…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Eliminating Latent Organizational Weaknesses Read More »
Several studies have evaluated the effectiveness of behavioral modification programs in improving workplace safety. These studies have focused on establishing the following: their ability to decrease accidents/injuries, their ability to increase safe behavior and which components in a behavioral observation safety processes are most important in changing unsafe behavior and reducing accidents and injuries… Membership...
Do Behavioral Observation Safety Processes Change Behaviors? Read More »
One of my favorite examples of Human Factors Engineering is the Center High-Mounted stop Lamps. We have all seen them on every personal vehicle manufactured today. They are now a safety requirement. But it was not always that way. So, what is a CHMSL? CHMSL are red stop lamps mounted on the center line of…...
Human Factors Engineering – Center High-Mounted Lamps Read More »
Human Performance Improvement (HPI) is the systematic process of determining desired performance, continually monitoring performance, discovering and analyzing performance gaps, designing and developing effective interventions, implementing these interventions, and continually evaluating the results of improvement interventions within performance monitoring to ensure that the improvement process takes place. The goal of excellence in human performance is…...
Nuclear industry’s take on HOP’s Five Principles Read More »
Humans are integral to the safe operation of a nuclear power plant. In the late 1970s, NRC began to focus on protecting and ensuring adequate training of plant staff to perform their assigned tasks. The NRC studied factors affecting performance, such as the effects of shift work on health and whether control room simulators would…...
Deep dive into HFE with the NRC’s Human Factors Information System (HFIS) Read More »
Behavior-Based observation and feedback processes promote desired behaviors by introducing POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT for behaving safely. The positive reinforcement is provided through POSITIVE FEEDBACK. These programs are based on the ABC behavior model, as I explain below. The effectiveness of behavioral safety observation and feedback programs is dependent upon effective implementation. Assess Cultural Maturity or Readiness… Membership...
Key Elements of Health and Safety Observation and Feedback Processes Read More »
