Tag Archives: ergonomics
The Varieties of Human Work
The analysis of work cannot be limited to work as prescribed in procedures etc (le travail prescrit), nor to the observation of work actually done (le travail réalisé). Similarly, it cannot be limited to work as we imagine it, nor work as people talk about it. Only by considering all four of these varieties of human work can we hope to understand what’s going on. Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics, Safety, systems thinking
Tagged aviation, ergonomics, field experts, focus groups, healthcare, human factors, interviews, observation, oil and gas, policy, procedures, QF32, rail, safety, safety-I, safety-II, systems thinking, task analysis, WebOps, work to rule, work-as-disclosed, work-as-done, work-as-imagined, work-as-judged
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Human Factors at The Fringe
There have been many debates in human factors about its status as science or art or both, and the scientific literature has recorded some of the issues spanning back over 50 years (e.g., de Moraes, 2000; Moray, 1994; Wilson, 2000; … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Human Factors/Ergonomics, Humanistic Psychology, Safety, systems thinking
Tagged art, communication, ergonomics, human factors, practice, research, safety, science, theatre
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Alarm design: From nuclear power to WebOps
Me, myself and TMI Imagine you are an operator in a nuclear power control room. An accident has started to unfold. During the first few minutes, more than 100 alarms go off, and there is no system for suppressing the … Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics, Safety
Tagged alarms, ergonomics, human factors, nuclear, QF32, TMI, WebOps
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‘Human error’ in the headlines: Press reporting on Virgin Galactic
Again, a familiar smoke pattern has emerged from the ashes of a high-profile accident. The National Transportation Safety Board held a hearing in Washington D.C. on 28 July 2015 on the Virgin Galactic crash over California on October 31, 2014. … Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics, Safety, systems thinking
Tagged accidents, blame, ergonomics, human error, human factors, Language, safety-I, safety-II, social media, systems thinking
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Reducing ‘the human factor’
If you work in an industry such as transportation or healthcare – where human involvement is critical – you have probably heard people talk about ‘the human factor’. This elusive term is rarely defined, but people often refer to reducing it, or perhaps mitigating it. … Continue reading
The quantified self in a complex system: A systems perspective on mental workload
In the last few years, many of us have started to quantify ourselves. We have purchased activity trackers to monitor and track health and fitness metrics such as distance walked and run, calorie consumption, heart rate and sleep quality. By … Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics
Tagged demand, ergonomics, human factors, psychology, workload
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Is ‘human error’ the handicap of human factors? A discussion among human factors specialists.
Following most major accidents, one phrase is almost guaranteed to headline in the popular press: ‘human error’. The concept is also popular in the ergonomics and human factors (EHF) discipline and profession; it is probably among the most profitable in … Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics, Safety, systems thinking
Tagged accidents, ergonomics, human error, human factors, safety, safety-I, safety-II, systems thinking
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