Human performance tools

Depending on the human performance tool, the postural information reqirired for an assessment may require a static posture at an instance in time, or multiple key postures at different times in the task. For example, the NIOSH lifting guide (NIOSH 1991) requires starting and ending postures of a lift to arrive at an assessment of the lift conditions. In contrast, analysis tools based on biomechanical models, such as low-back injury risk-assessment tools, can analyze loading conditions continuously for each posture throughout the simulation. 

Volume 2 Human performance tools for individuals, work teams, and management, human... 

Volume 2 Human Performance Tools Eor Individuals, Work Teams, And Management, Human Performance Improvement Handbook, Public Domain. (2009). U.S. Department of Energy. Retrieved from http //l. usa.gov/1 lEx7vE. 

The US Department of Energy, Human Performance Improvement Handbook, Volume II, has several surveys and tools that can be used to aid in defining the organizational safety climate, human performance gap analysis tool, and a job site condihons self-assessment (Volume 2 Human performance tools for individuals, work teams, and management, human performance improvement handbook, 2009). 

Volume 2 Human Performance Tools For Individuals, Work Teams, And Management, Human Performance Improvement Handbook, Public Domain, 2009. 

Figure 2.3 Overview of Human Performance Tools, Example Flow Diagram of Individual Tool Use. DOE (2009a).

This book brings together a wide range of tools and techniques used by human factors and human reliability specialists, which have proved to be useful in the context of human performance problems in the CPI. Although many human factors practitioners will be familiar with these methods, this book is intended to provide ready access to both simple and advanced techniques in a single source. Where possible, uses of the techniques in a CPI context are illustrated by means of case studies. 

Studies indicate that the vast majority of incidents involve human performance issues. Incident investigations should not simply identify human performance as a cause the management system failure that did not prevent or compensate for the potential human performance must he identified and corrected in order to prevent recurrence. An incident investigation management system should provide the tools to identify and address applicable human factors issues. It is important to recognize that human performance problems can occur in all management system areas—not simply to the human operator or maintenance worker closest to the scene. 

The Naval Medical Research Institute Performance Assessment Battery (NMRI-PAB) was developed to measure the effects of a wide variety of military environments upon the technically oriented tasks of Marine and Naval personnel. The battery s methodology was based on a tii-service methodology in an attempt to standardize measurement of human performance in military environments.41 The NMRI-PAB, like the WRPAB and UTC-PAB, is a menu-driven, microcomputer-based assessment tool that comprises individual tasks. 

Finally, the real-world process consists of the steps that are actually performed by humans or tools. The process model is used to guide and control process participants, who conversely provide feedback which is used to update the process model instance. 

Gordon Wallace, Ph.D., D.Sc., FTSE, is currently executive research director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. His research interests include organic conductors, nanomaterials, and electrochemical probe methods of analysis. A current focus of his involves the use of these tools and materials in developing biocommunications, from the molecular to skeletal domains, in order to improve human performance via medical bionics. 

Most often, simulation engineers expect to ask human performance questions of their simulation without having to redescribe the simulation in the language of the tool. Thus, ideally, the tools are implemented such that they can derive aU the necessary information from the simulation directly. Less ideally, the engineer performing the assessment must exphcitly identify details of the simulation using tool specific descriptors. 

TABLE 2 Partial List of Performance Tools Available in High-End Human Simulation Tools ... 

The remainder of this chapter will discuss two classes of modeling tools for humem performance simulation. After discussing each class of modeling tool, we will provide specific examples of a modeling tool and then provide case studies about how these tools have been used in emswering reed human performance questions. 

Hahler, B., Dahl, S., Laughery, R., Lockett, J., and Thein, B. (1991), CREWCUT—A Tool for Modehng the Effects of High Workload on Human Performance, in Preceedings of the 35th Annual Human Factors Society Conference, (San Francisco). 

Human Performance Engineering Design and Analysis Tools... 

Vasta, P.J. and Kondraske, G.V. 2000. Human performance engineering computer based design and analysis tools. In J.D. Bronzino (Ed.), Handbook of Biomedical Engineering, 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press. 

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