Human Error
“Human error versus human capability: Which way should the pendulum swing?”
Human factors can be defined as “the technology concerned to optimize the relationship between people and their activities by the systematic application of the human sciences, integrated within the framework of system engineering” (Edwards, 1988, p. 9). Human factors have evolved over the years since the birth of tools many millennia ago (Civil Aviation Authority, 2002). The modern evolution of human factors happened in the last century (Civil Aviation Authority, 2002). The technology that surpassed human capability in the First World War saw the need for an effective human factors approach (Civil Aviation Authority, 2002). A scientific approach was also used in the selection and training of staff (Civil Aviation Authority, 2002). Human factors were institutionalized with the advent of organizations such as the Human Factors Society (Civil Aviation Authority, 2002).
The safety system in place today in the aviation industry was formulated at a time when the aircraft was seen as the reason behind almost all accidents (Wiegmann & Shappell, 2003). Fifty years on, aviation accidents can be attributed more to human error than those of the aircraft (Wiegmann & Shappell, 2003). As such, the human causes of the accidents need to be addressed in a more effective manner, in order to see a reduction in aviation accidents (Wiegmann & Shappell, 2003). This essay explores the integration between human error management and human performance capability in human factors. With relevant examples, it argues that more should be invested in error reduction than in performance capabilities.
Human error is simply defined as when humans make mistakes (Whittingham, 2004). There are many influential reasons to human mistakes, but an obvious reason would be human error occurs when a person commits an error due to their shortcomings rather than external factors (Civil Aviation Authority, 2003).
Human factors can be defined as “the technology concerned to optimize the relationship between people and their activities by the systematic application of the human sciences, integrated within the framework of system engineering” (Edwards, 1988, p. 9). Human factors have evolved over the years since the birth of tools many millennia ago (Civil Aviation Authority, 2002). The modern evolution of human factors happened in the last century (Civil Aviation Authority, 2002). The technology that surpassed human capability in the First World War saw the need for an effective human factors approach (Civil Aviation Authority, 2002). A scientific approach was also used in the selection and training of staff (Civil Aviation Authority, 2002). Human factors were institutionalized with the advent of organizations such as the Human Factors Society (Civil Aviation Authority, 2002).
The safety system in place today in the aviation industry was formulated at a time when the aircraft was seen as the reason behind almost all accidents (Wiegmann & Shappell, 2003). Fifty years on, aviation accidents can be attributed more to human error than those of the aircraft (Wiegmann & Shappell, 2003). As such, the human causes of the accidents need to be addressed in a more effective manner, in order to see a reduction in aviation accidents (Wiegmann & Shappell, 2003). This essay explores the integration between human error management and human performance capability in human factors. With relevant examples, it argues that more should be invested in error reduction than in performance capabilities.
Human error is simply defined as when humans make mistakes (Whittingham, 2004). There are many influential reasons to human mistakes, but an obvious reason would be human error occurs when a person commits an error due to their shortcomings rather than external factors (Civil Aviation Authority, 2003).