WHAT IS HUMAN FACTOR?

Human factor is a multi-disciplinary activity concerned with improving the integration of human issues into the development lifecycle and operational use of work systems.

Human factor is an engineering development which focuses on:

1. Human interaction with components of technical systems.
2. The design and supply of the human activities and processes required to support the technical system.

The overall objectives of human factors are to design systems, jobs and organisations that match human capabilities and limitations. Benefits include:

1. Increased efficiency and reliability.
2. Reduced accident frequency i.e. increased safety and lower risk.
3. Lower training expenditure.
4. Improved user acceptance.

HUMAN FACTORS DOMAINS

Human factor is a wide-ranging discipline covering activities from operating and maintaining equipment to training staff and organising workplace layouts. The many activities can be grouped into six main areas or 'domains'. These are listed below with their main issues and considerations:

(A) MANPOWER
Human resources available to operate and maintain the system:

- Staffing Levels
- Job Specification
- Workload
- Team Organisation

(B) PERSONNEL
Aptitude, experience, strength, body size necessary to achieve optimal system performance:

- Recruitment Process
- Qualifications/Experience
- Body Size, Eyesight…

(C) TRAINING
Knowledge, skills, abilities to operate and maintain systems under operational conditions:

- Training Courses - New Skill Development
- Specialist Training Facilities
- Refresher Courses - Skill Maintenance

(D) HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING
Integration of human issues into system design to optimise performance within the human/machine system:

- Design of Equipment
- Work Environment/Layout
- User Interface Design - Computing Facilities/Screens

(E) SYSTEM SAFETY
Ability of system to be operated and maintained without accidental injury to personnel:

- Human Error
- Misuse and Abuse
- Environmental and External Hazards

(F) HEALTH HAZARDS
Inherent conditions in operation or use of system (shock, recoil, vibration etc) that can cause death, injury, illness, disability or reduce performance:

- Toxic Materials
- Mechanical Injury
- Extreme Temperatures
- Electric Shock

HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING IN PRACTICE

Trident Consultants has undertaken a variety of human factors projects which fall into the following key sectors:

(A) OIL & GAS
The design and layout of plants and equipment can make a substantial difference to comfort, efficiency, effectiveness and staff turnover. In such a potentially hazardous area, safety management is clearly of paramount importance.

(B) EXPERT WITNESS
Assessing the risks is fundamental in the identification and prevention of personal injuries in the workplace. Trident undertakes cases referring to musculoskeletal injuries and disorders, RSI, or manual handling.

(C) EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS
When designing a system to respond to emergency situations it is crucial that it functions as effectively and efficiently as possible. Your personnel are an integral part of the safety system. The application of human factors techniques can help to ensure that your system will not fail when it is most needed.

(D) PETROCHEMICAL
Trident Consultants has a broad range of experience within the petrochemical industry focusing on understanding the real needs of the employees and reflecting this in the design. This experience includes:

- Task Analysis
- Hazard Analysis
- Workload Assessment
- Workplace Design
- Interface Design

These analyses and design have been performed for major petrochemical installations and refineries worldwide.

TRIDENT CONSULTANTS

Trident Consultants has both in-house and associate capabilities to perform human factors Engineering projects to clients in all industrial sectors. If you would like to find out more on what Trident Consultants can offer you please contact us.