Why Human Factors?
The intense research on accident causation during the past three decades have identified human error as the main reason for up to 80% of all incidents and accidents in complex high-risk systems such as those present in energy work, oil and gas, pipeline, petrochemical, construction, mining, military, and emergency responders.1,2
Human actions are the most critical factor to prevent or cause accidents. Often, the effects of negative actions and behaviors are not readily apparent, but their compounding effects over time give place to health problems. Consequently, managing human factors is the most effective way to avoid accidents and prevent illnesses.
Main Human Factors Affecting Safety
Fatige
Fatigue is often the principal driver of human error in high risk work environments. Worker Fatigue manifests as a "decreased ability to perform activities due to compromised mental and/or physical capabilities after mental or physical excretion. Intense or long work periods generate worker fatigue, which the body can eliminate through rest and proper restorative sleep. When such recovery doesn’t take place workers can reach dangerous levels of fatigue that compromise not only their productivity, but more importantly their safety.
IMPAIRMENT DUE TO FATIGUE
Fatigue impairs the central nervous system, specially the prefrontal cortex, thus limiting their functionality. Consequently, fatigued workers experience compromised alertness, judgement, reaction time, mental acuity, physical strength, and an uncooperative disposition, which when combined with a high-risk work environment puts workers in grave danger. In some industries being fatigued may not have bad consequences but in the industries that we serve, being fatigued can trigger fatal accidents.