How do you manage human error and fatigue in complex systems?

1 What is human error and fatigue?

Human error is any action or decision that deviates from the intended or expected outcome, and that can cause harm, waste, or inefficiency. Fatigue is a state of reduced physical or mental capacity due to prolonged or intense work, stress, or lack of sleep. Both human error and fatigue can impair the cognitive, perceptual, and motor skills of workers, operators, or users of complex systems, and increase the risk of accidents, errors, or failures.

2 Why are complex systems prone to human error and fatigue?

Complex systems are characterized by high levels of interdependence, uncertainty, variability, and dynamism. They often involve multiple tasks, goals, roles, and stakeholders, and require constant adaptation, coordination, and communication. These features create high cognitive and physical demands for the human operators or users of complex systems, and challenge their abilities, limits, and preferences. Moreover, complex systems may have latent or hidden flaws, such as design defects, procedural gaps, or organizational weaknesses, that can trigger or amplify human error and fatigue.

3 How can you measure human error and fatigue?

Measuring human error and fatigue is not easy, as they can have multiple causes, forms, and effects. However, there are some methods and tools that can help you quantify and analyze them. For example, you can use error classification schemes, such as the human error identification (HEIDI) or the human factors analysis and classification system (HFACS), to categorize and identify the types, sources, and consequences of errors. You can also use performance indicators, such as error rates, productivity, quality, or safety, to monitor and evaluate the impact of errors and fatigue on the system. Additionally, you can use subjective measures, such as surveys, interviews, or questionnaires, to assess the perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of the workers, operators, or users regarding errors and fatigue.

4 How can you prevent human error and fatigue?

Preventing human error and fatigue requires a proactive and systemic approach that considers both the human and the system factors. You can use human factors and ergonomics principles and methods to design or improve the system components, such as the equipment, the environment, the interface, the procedures, or the organization, to make them more compatible, usable, and supportive of the human capabilities and needs. You can also use training, education, or feedback to enhance the skills, knowledge, or awareness of the workers, operators, or users, and to foster a positive safety culture. Furthermore, you can use policies, regulations, or standards to establish clear rules, roles, and responsibilities, and to promote good practices and behaviors.

5 How can you recover from human error and fatigue?

Recovering from human error and fatigue requires a reactive and resilient approach that enables the system to cope with, adapt to, or learn from the adverse events or situations. You can use incident reporting, investigation, or analysis systems to identify, document, or communicate the causes, effects, or lessons learned from errors and fatigue, and to implement corrective or preventive actions. You can also use error management, recovery, or mitigation strategies, such as checklists, alarms, backups, or redundancies, to detect, correct, or reduce the impact of errors and fatigue on the system. Additionally, you can use rest, breaks, or recovery periods to restore the physical or mental capacity of the workers, operators, or users, and to prevent or minimize fatigue accumulation or chronic effects.

6 How can you improve human error and fatigue management?

Improving human error and fatigue management requires a continuous and collaborative effort that involves all the system stakeholders, such as the managers, the engineers, the workers, the operators, the users, or the regulators. You can use feedback, evaluation, or improvement cycles, such as the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) or the monitor-analyze-plan-do (MAPD), to review, assess, or update the system performance, processes, or outcomes, and to identify, prioritize, or implement improvement opportunities. You can also use benchmarking, best practices, or standards to compare, learn, or adopt the successful methods or solutions of other systems or organizations. Moreover, you can use participation, consultation, or communication channels to engage, involve, or inform the system stakeholders, and to foster a shared vision, commitment, or responsibility for human error and fatigue management.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?