Human Factors in Incidents

Human Factors in Incidents

·         Negligence - Failure to observe safety rules or instructions or to maintain equipment.

·         Anger/Temper - Causes one to become irrational and to disregard common sense.

·         Hasty Decisions - Acting before thinking can lead people to take hazardous shortcuts.

·         Indifference - Lack of attention to the task; not alert; daydreaming.

·         Distractions - Interruptions by others (perhaps caused by family troubles, bad news, horseplay) while someone performs normal job duties or non-routine hazardous tasks.

·         Curiosity - Workers do something unexpected just to see what happens.

·         Inadequate Instruction - Results in an untrained or improperly trained worker.

·         Poor Work Habits - Cluttered work place, floor, loose clothing, wearing jewelry.

We can reduce the number of accidents caused by “human factors”. 

·         Knowledge – By knowing and observing safety rules or instructions, and maintaining equipment.

·         Relax/Calm Down – If you find you are angry or your temper is flaring, take the time to relax, address the issue, and calm down before you proceed with the work.

·         Think Before You Act – Take a few minutes to think of the work to be done and identify the potential hazards and what you can do to avoid or prevent an accident.

·         Focus – Focus at the task at hand and keep you mind on your work.

·         Minimize Interruptions - Interruptions by others may be one of the easiest to identify, but one of the most difficult to control.  However, as an example we can turn off cell phones when they are not needed or cannot be answered safely. 

·         Don’t Experiment – Don’t do anything unless you know what the results will be and it is required for the project.  

·         Proper Training/Instruction – Train and instruct your team and yourself on the proper and safe way to complete the project.  If you feel uncomfortable about performing the work, ask someone with more experience for some help.

·         Proper Work Habits – Keep you work area clean and free of hazards.  Wear the proper clothing and PPE for the project.