14/10/2004 - Features
The 'human factors' of safety at work
Whenever there is a major investigation or enquiry into a workplace disaster, it seems that two words are frequently mentioned - human error. It follows than that to improve on safety, workplaces must examine factors involving its people and perhaps most importantly those aspects of an organisation which have an influence on behaviour.
In this feature we provide an overview of a huge area of study examining these issues known as "human factors"…
Part 1 - What is 'human factors'?
Part 2 - What influences people at work
Part 3 - Achieving the right safety culture
Part 4 - Ergonomics, the scientific study of work
Part 5 - What causes 'human error'?
Click on the links over to the left-hand-side of this page to read each part...