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Human factors briefing notes

Shortcut link: www.energyinst.org/hfbriefingnotes 

Understanding how human factors (HF) influence human performance is increasingly important as a management aid. There are many reference books and websites concerned with HF and ergonomics and, although the terms are in common use in industry, it can be difficult to easily find out about particular HF issues.

To improve industry's understanding of key HF issues, the EI’s Human and Organisational Factors Committee (HOFCOM) commissioned Kingsley Management Ltd. to prepare the Human factors briefing notes resource pack.  Originally published in 2003, the briefing notes have undergone an extensive review, and the second edition resource pack was published in 2011.

Second edition 

The second edition briefing notes have been revised and expanded, with new case studies and content, and redesigned to be easier to read and more practical to use.  They were launched with an article in Petroleum Review and Energy World magazines written by author Bill Gall (Kingsley Management Ltd.) explaining their development.  

Second edition Human factors briefing notes 

The briefing notes provide a definition and introduction to the most pertinent HF topics.  They also provide: 

  • checklists of questions to gauge whether your company has a problem;  
  • guidance on what the company or management should do to address each HF issue;
  • both 'negative' and 'positive' case studies (illustrating the consequences and potential solutions);
  • potential performance indicators (PIs) for the HSE 'key topics', and
  • further reading lists.

There are now 20 briefing notes, covering the following topics:  

No. 

Title

Provides guidance on:

1 Introduction Using the briefing notes and the importance of HF.
2Alarm handling Alarm ‘flooding’, standing alarms, nuisance alarms and others.
3Organisational changeAvoiding problems when restructuring an organisation.
4MaintenanceEnsuring reliable servicing, repair, testing, calibration and inspection.
5FatigueAvoiding performance deficits associated with excessive mental or physical fatigue.
6Safety critical procedures Ensuring the usability of all forms of work instructions.
7Training and competence Ensuring workforce competence through selection, training and assessment.
8ErgonomicsGood design of tasks, workplace, tools and equipment.
9Safety culture Securing appropriate management and workforce attitudes and values towards safety.
10CommunicationsEnsuring the correct transfer of information especially at shift handover.
11Task analysis Methods for examining work tasks.
12Human error and non-compliance Understanding how and why tasks fail to meet objectives.
13Human reliability analysis The principles and methods used to assess errors.
14Behavioural safety Improving safety behaviour through observation and feedback.
15Incident and accident analysis Learning lessons from untoward events.
16Human factors integration Incorporating human factors into projects and organisational systems.
17Performance indicators Leading and lagging indicators of human performance for HF topics.
18LeadershipThe effect of leaders’ influence and direction on health and safety.
19Pressure and stress Coping with work demands and other sources of pressure.
20Occupational safety vs. process safety The difference between personal and major hazard safety.

To understand how they are best used, please read briefing note 1: Introduction before proceeding further.

How to access this publication 

Purchase the complete Human factors briefing notes resource pack (2011, Second edition, ISBN 978 0 85293 608 5) in hard copy format. 

Download individual briefing notes free of charge by clicking on the titles in the above list.

Whilst users are encouraged to use them, the briefing notes are subject to copyright and should not be uploaded to multi-user intranets without permission. Should you wish to order a bulk quantity of the packs or seek a licence to upload the series to a company intranet, please contact Erica Sciolti, EI Publications Manager for further details e: esciolti@energyinst.org

Feedback
Once you’ve used the briefing notes, EI’s Human and Organisational Factors Committee would like to hear from you. Have you found them helpful?  Are there other issues that would benefit from being covered in the briefing notes? Email or send your comments to Stuart King, EI, 61 New Cavendish St, London W1G 7AR e: sking@energyinst.org.

Acknowledgements

This resource pack was prepared by Bill Gall (Kingsley Management Ltd.), with the support of the Keil Centre, at the request of the EI Human and Organisational Factors Committee (HOFCOM). During this work, committee members included:

  • Fiona Brindley, Health and Safety Executive
  • Bill Gall Kingsley, Management Ltd.
  • Pete Jefferies, ConocoPhillips (Vice-Chair)
  • Stuart King, EI (Secretary)
  • Rob Miles, Health and Safety Executive
  • Allen Ormond, ABB
  • Graham Reeves, BP plc (Chair)
  • Rob Saunders, Shell International Exploration and Production B.V
  • Helen Rycraft, Magnox North Sites
  • Dr Mark Scanlon, EI
  • Dr John Symonds, ExxonMobil Corporation
  • John Wilkinson, Health and Safety Executive

Technical editing and project coordination were carried out by Stuart King (EI). The briefing notes were designed by Lindsey Board (EI) and Pravin Dewdhory (Ideas Faculty Ltd.).

The EI also wishes to acknowledge its appreciation to all stakeholders who made significant contributions during the survey and/or review stages of the project.

Disclaimer
Although it is hoped and anticipated that the Human factors briefing notes will assist those with responsibility for human factors issues, the Energy Institute cannot accept any responsibility, of whatsoever kind, for adverse health, incidents, injuries, damage, loss, or alleged adverse health, incidents, injuries, damage, loss, arising or otherwise occurring as a result of their application.

 
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