What is Human Error?

Human error is often described as a failure of a planned action to achieve a desired outcome. In simpler terms, it’s when something doesn’t go as intended. Human error is a natural and inevitable part of human activity, especially in complex work environments like healthcare, manufacturing, aviation, and oil & gas. People don’t come to work with the intention of making mistakes, yet errors happen every day. But is the individual truly to blame?

Instead of simply pointing fingers, it’s essential to dig deeper and understand why an error happened. The Human & Organisational Performance (HOP) approach, along with tools like Human Factors Analysis, Root Cause Analysis, and Incident Investigation, guides us to move beyond blaming individuals and toward examining the conditions and systemic factors that contribute to errors.

The Problem with Blame

When a mistake leads to an incident, our natural response is often to find someone to hold accountable. But by blaming individuals for errors, we fail to explore the underlying causes and miss valuable opportunities to prevent future incidents. Repeated incidents often signal that there’s more to uncover—a systemic issue, a process flaw, or an environmental factor that is influencing behavior and outcomes.

Blame closes the door to learning. Instead of solving the problem, it diverts attention away from the real issues, often leading to repeated mistakes. By focusing on the “why” rather than the “who,” organisations can uncover actionable insights that help create safer, more resilient work environments.

Human Error is Natural and Inevitable

The reality is that humans are imperfect, and mistakes are an unavoidable part of any work environment. But errors don’t happen in isolation; they are typically influenced by a host of factors that are often beyond the individual’s control. These factors—referred to as Human Factors—include things like:

• Fatigue: Long shifts and limited rest can impair focus and judgment.
• Environment: High noise levels, poor lighting, or extreme temperatures can impact performance.
• Complexity of Task: Difficult or unclear tasks increase the likelihood of errors.
• Communication Gaps: Lack of clear instructions or miscommunication can lead to mistakes.
• Stress and Pressure: High-stakes environments or tight deadlines can impair decision-making.

By understanding these influences, we can identify where the system may be setting up individuals to fail, allowing us to make improvements that reduce the likelihood of human error.

What Are Human Factors?

Human Factors refer to the various conditions and circumstances that shape how people behave and make decisions. In the context of Human Error, these factors are the deeper reasons why an error occurred, and they often lie outside the control of the individual.

Human Factors Analysis aims to answer questions like:

• What conditions were present that may have contributed to this error?
• Was the individual set up for success with the right tools, information, and environment?
• Are there gaps in training, processes, or equipment that made the task more difficult or prone to error?

Understanding Human Factors means looking at the system in which people operate. By focusing on these broader influences, organisations can shift their approach from reactive to proactive, anticipating potential problems and designing safer, more supportive systems.

Moving Toward a Learning-Focused Approach

To truly address Human Error, organisations must adopt a Learning-Focused Approach. This means looking beyond individual mistakes and embracing a mindset that seeks to understand the why behind incidents. This approach is foundational to Human & Organisational Performance (HOP), which posits that:

• Human Error is a symptom, not a cause. Instead of being the end of the investigation, it should be the beginning of deeper analysis.
• Errors are opportunities for improvement. Each incident provides valuable insights that can be used to improve systems and prevent future mistakes.
• Blame doesn’t solve problems. Focusing on blame discourages openness and prevents people from reporting issues, ultimately hindering improvement.