Human Factors Data

Failure Rates, Incidents and Human Factors Data... 

There are two traditional approaches to collecting and analyzing human factors data related to driving. The first approach is to use data gathered through epidemiological studies (often collected on a national level). These databases, however, lack sufficient detail to be helpful for many applications, such as the development of countermeasure systems or the assessment of interactions between causal and contributing factors that lead to crashes. 

Hunns D.M., (1982) Discussions around a Human Factors Data-Base, an Interim Solution the Method of Paired Comparisons, Section 1.6.3 of High Risk Safety Technology, A. E. Green, J. Wiley and Sons, Ltd., Chichester, United Kingdom. 

Technical data. Health, Safety and Human Factors Laboratory, Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y., 1980. 

Systems analyses are like formulas, they have little usefulness until the variables are assigned probabilistic numbers from nuclear or chemical data bases. These data concern the probability of failing vessels, pipes, valves, instruments and controls. The primary difference between chemical and nuclear data is that the former may operate in a more chemically active environment, while the later operate in radiation. This chapter addresses both, but most of the data were gathered for nuclear systems. It covers 1) failure rate databases, 2) incident databases, 3) how to prepare failure rates from incidents, and 4) human factors for nuclear and chemical analyses. 

Human actions can initiate accident sequences or cause failures, or conversely rectify or mitigate an accident sequence once initiated. The current methodology lacks nuclear-plant-based data, an experience base for human factors probability density functions, and a knowledge of how this distribution changes under stress. 

Fullwood, R. R. and K. J. Gilbert, Data and Assessment of Human Factors Imps Reactors," ANS Trans 26 p 385, June 1977. 

Williams, J. C., 1989, A Data-Based Method for Assessing and Reducing Human Error to Improve Operational Performance, Proceedings of the 1988 IEEE Fourth Conference on Human Factors and Power Plants, Monterey, CA, June 5-9, pp 436-450, IEEE. 

The book begins with a discussion of the theories of error causation and then goes on to describe the various ways in which data can be collected, analyzed, and used to reduce the potential for error. Case studies are used to teach the methodology of error reduction in specific industry operations. Finally, the book concludes with a plan for a plant error reduction program and a discussion of how human factors principles impact on the process safety management system. 

The first component of the systems approach to error reduction is the optimization of human performance by designing the system to support human strengths and minimize the effects of human limitations. The hiunan factors engineering and ergonomics (HFE/E) approach described in Section 2.7 of Chapter 2 indicates some of the techniques available. Design data from the human factors literature for areas such as equipment, procedures, and the human-machine interface are available to support the designer in the optimization process. In addition the analytical techniques described in Chapter 4 (e.g., task analysis) can be used in the development of the design. 

Many data collection systems place the primary emphasis on the technical causes of accidents. There is usually a very detailed description of the chemical process in which the accident occurred, together with an in-depth analysis of the technical failures that are seen as the major causes. The human or system failures that may have contributed to the accident are usually treated in a cursory manner. Technically oriented reporting systems are very common in the CPI, where engineers who may be unfamiliar with human factors princi-... 

The first area focuses on the cultural and organizational factors that will have a major influence on the effectiveness of a human error data collection system and how well the information derived from such a system is translated into successful error reduction strategies. Regardless of how effectively the technical issues are dealt with, the system will not be successful imless there is a culture in the organization which provides support for the data gathering process. No data collection system aimed at identifying human error causes of accidents will be workable without the active cooperation of the workforce. 

The information gathered from the interviews conducted as part of the human error data collection process is entered on paper forms. In order to facilitate the ease and accuracy of data collection, the forms should be designed using human factors guidelines for written materials (e.g., Wright, 1987 Wright and Barnard, 1975). 

TABLE 7.1 Data Collection Techniques in the Human Factors Audit ... 

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