Human Failure Analysis and Classification

Human Error when appear on an accident report, the supervisors, managers, may feel less worry not to be 100% victim of the blame game. In some cultures, where safety is not the value, accident prevention is equal to "controlling workers strictly". In the modern organization where safety is a leading action, Human Failure is the results of organizational factors, personal factors, and job factors combined. No blame.
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Let’s make this subject very straight forward. Why most of the sales representatives use their mobile phone while driving? It is purely from their own judgement or because of their company let it happen. One eye close, one eye open and say, mobile phone is not allowed while driving. If the company really value mobile phone policy, why not take more actions such as;

  1. Let the sales representatives to turn off mobile phone while driving.
  2. The call will be automatically transferred  to Customer Service Department.
  3. No phone, no handfree, devices can be used while driving.

Question is why not? Sales volume is important. All workers have to follow the rules. We show them the rules already. This is one example of the organization factors that impacts on human. The way the company take safety serious or no serious is reflecting on the climate. “Safety is serious here” or ” It is Okay to use it as long as you stop your car”.

Now let’s move to Job Factors. In modern company, where safety is truly integrated into every parts of the business activities, the risk associated with single steps will be assessed, mitigated, and controlled. Let’s say, all the routes that to be used by the sales representatives are being assessed. Unsafe routes will be marked and not allowed. The rest area will be also listed to ensure nobody take too long driving.  Job can be planned. Equipment and tools will be adequately provided. Supervision, communications, training and procedures are provided.

How about Personal Factors.  A pilot not familiar with the plane that he is flying and make critical mistake. A  new work who has just newly onboarding make mistake because not be able to remember confusing protocol. A driver, fell assleep because has been driving for more than 24 hours. His income is mainly from the number of trip he can make per month.

Hopefully, more in depth analysis will be made when someone make an error.

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