Managing Errors – Turning Mistakes into Opportunities

Understanding Errors as a Part of Life

Making mistakes isn’t a failure—it’s part of being human. Research suggests that we make 3-6 errors every waking hour, whether driving, working, or running daily errands. Most of these errors don’t have serious consequences because we naturally self-correct, get assistance from others, or adjust mid-course. However, when errors occur in critical tasks, like aviation or maintenance, the stakes are much higher.

Understanding the types of human error and learning how to manage them is essential—not only for improving safety but also for fostering a proactive and supportive environment.

Types of Errors

Errors can be divided into?unintentional?and?intentional:

• Unintentional include slips (attention failures) and lapses (memory failures). For example, forgetting to latch an aircraft fan cowl door can lead to an accident, as seen in the 2000 Airbus A-320 incident.
• Intentional can lead to violations, where rules are consciously broken. These include: (a) Routine violations – shortcuts becoming the norm, (b) Situational violations – breaking the rules due to resource constraints, (c) Optimizing violations – bending the rules for personal benefits or thrill-seeking, and (d) Exceptional violations – reckless, rule-breaking behavior in unique situations.

Why Errors Happen

Human errors are often tied to our performance limitations – memory failure, distractions, or insufficient knowledge. These traits, while frustrating, also make us incredibly adaptable. Our natural creativity and problem-solving ability allow us to prevent many mistakes from escalating into serious crises.

Practical Tips for Managing Errors

For Individuals

1. Be mindful of distractions?– Pay close attention to repetitive tasks. One maintenance engineer slipped on a ladder while distracted by a colleague nearby, resulting in a serious injury.
2. Use memory aids?– Always rely on checklists, not your memory. Forgetting critical steps, like checking undercarriage pins during pre-flight checks, can have dire consequences.
3. Follow the rules, even under pressure?– Avoid the temptation of cutting corners. Violations can have far-reaching effects.

For Organizations

1. Build error tolerance?– Design systems to catch errors before they cause harm. For example, regular aircraft inspections help identify cracks before they become catastrophic.
2. Strengthen shift handovers?– Overlapping shifts can improve communication and ensure smooth transitions.
3. Encourage reporting and learning?– Foster a culture where errors are openly reported without fear, allowing the team to learn and improve systems.
4. Focus on fatigue?– Optimize rosters, monitor workloads, and encourage breaks to reduce errors caused by exhaustion.

Actionable Advice for Improving Safety

For better error management, organizations must adopt a systemic approach:

• Create a transparent?reporting culture – where reporting near-misses isn’t just encouraged but rewarded.
• Implement?checklists and streamlined processes?to reduce memory-related errors.
• Conduct?regular safety mentoring?and staff-led reviews to identify potential issues before they occur.
• Limit the impact of human error through?redundancy – always have backup systems or personnel for critical roles.

By treating errors as opportunities for growth and understanding their root causes, individuals and organizations can build safer, more efficient operations. Together, we can turn mistakes into meaningful lessons and stronger practices.

For further resources and guidance on implementing Safety Management Systems, contact WYVERN, THE industry expert, and ask about our SMS software. Contact us for a FREE SMS demo! Together, we can elevate aviation safety and create a safer future.

References

*(2014). SMS for Aviation - A Practical Guide, Human Factors. This circular is available for download on our public website.