Human Factors (HF)
The term 'Human Factors' (HF) has become widely used in relation to major accidents and has led to the development of HF based training strategies to reduce the risk of further HF related incidents and the use of an overarching Safety Management System (SMS).
The dangers are that a 'tick the box' approach occurs, with training in HF compartmentalised and not meeting the needs of the particular operation. Our HF specialists understandthe key components of the scale of risk from human error, the use of complex technology and processes to manage the work.
We provide:
- Tailored Human Factors consulting and course development for your specific operation.
- Human Factors Consulting.
- Fatigue Risk Management & Fatigue Management Training development.
- Cultural factors.
- LOSA
Importantly, we do not believe in a 'one size fits all approach' Human factors works correctly at multiple levels from the core task, individual, team, organisation and industry (culture) (Russ et al., 2013).
A single approach, i.e. training as the primary intervention, without full consideration and without addressing the potential modification of all the complex system components will most likely fail. Consider that despite decades of CRM training, the results have been viewed with mixed success (Salas, Wilson, Burke, & Wightman, 2006), with further problems achieving successful transfer within the global industry due to cultural factors (Liao, 2015). These pitfalls can only be avoided by ensuring a complete overview of the complex socio-technical system for HF successful intervention, rather than on any single facet and Ad Astra Consulting can assist you in this key aim.
References:
Liao, M.-Y. (2015). Safety Culture in commercial aviation: Differences in perspective between Chinese and Western pilots. Safety Science, 79, 193–205.
Russ, A. L., Fairbanks, R. J., Karsh, B.-T., Militello, L. G., Saleem, J. J. & Wears, R. L. (2013). The science of human factors: separating fact from fiction. BMJ Quality & Safety, 1–7.
Salas, E., Wilson, K. A., Burke, C. S. & Wightman, D. C. (2006). Does crew resource management training work? An update, an extension, and some critical needs. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 48(2), 392–412.