Human Factors and Performance: Reducing Errors and Improving Safety

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Khan ◽  
Leah Boyd ◽  
Ferdinand Velez
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
And Performance

Human Factors Goes to the Polls: The Voting Process as a Man-Machine System

1977 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 545-547
Author(s):  
Tyler Blake
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Systems Analysis ◽  
Voter Behavior ◽  
Human Engineering ◽  
Machine System ◽  
Factors Analysis ◽  
Points Of Interest ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Critical Aspects ◽  
Human Factors Analysis

With the advent of voting machines and computers, the voting process has evolved into a complex man-machine system. However, to date no comprehensive human factors analysis of the voting process has been conducted. A systems analysis of the voting process yielded four major functions which impact critically on voter behavior and performance: (a) Design of voting instructions (b) Display of crucial voting information (c) Human engineering of voting equipment and procedures (d) Distribution of voting machines and personnel across and within voting districts. Some critical aspects of each area are discussed, and some additional points of interest to human factors specialists interested in researching this area are mentioned.

The Adult Human Hand: Some Anthropometric and Biomechanical Considerations

1971 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Garrett
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Dynamic Loads ◽  
Human Hand ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
Performance Parameters ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Adult Human ◽  
High Dynamic ◽  
And Performance

Recent studies of the anthropometry and selected biomechanical characteristics of hands are summarized. These include: (1) conventional anthropometry of male and female hands, (2) the anthropometry of the relaxed hand, (3) comparison of certain engineering anthropometric and performance parameters between bare and pressure-gloved hands, and (4) the ability to retain grips on selected handles under high dynamic loads. The utility of these data for human factors engineering is discussed.

Using simulation to iteratively test and re-design a cognitive aid for use in the management of severe local anaesthetic toxicity

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-12
Author(s):  
Catherine A McIntosh ◽  
David Donnelly ◽  
Robert Marr
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Local Anaesthetic ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
Cognitive Aids ◽  
Local Standard ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Font Design ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Education And Development

IntroductionCognitive aids, such as a guideline for the management of severe local anaesthetic (LA) toxicity, are tools designed to help users complete a task. Human factors experts recommend the use of simulation to iteratively test and re-design these tools. The purpose of this study was to apply human factors engineering principles to the testing and iterative re-design of three existing cognitive aids used for the management of severe LA toxicity and to use these data to develop a ‘new’ cognitive aid.MethodsTwenty anaesthetist–anaesthetic assistant pairs were randomised into four groups. Each of the first three groups received one of three different existing cognitive aids during a standardised simulated LA toxicity crisis. Postsimulation semistructured interviews were conducted to identify features beneficial and detrimental to the format and usability of the aid. Synthesis of the interview data with established checklist design recommendations resulted in a prototype aid, which was subjected to further testing and re-design by the fourth group (five more pairs) under the same conditions thus creating the final iteration of the new aid.ResultsFeatures of the new aid included a single-stream flowchart structure, single-sided, large-font design with colour contrast, simplified instructions and no need for calculations. This simplified tool contains only the information users reported as essential for the immediate crisis management.ConclusionsUtilisation of formative usability testing and simulation-based user-centred design resulted in a visually very different cognitive aid and reinforces the importance of designing aids in the context in which they are to be used. Simplified tools may be more appropriate for use in emergencies but more detailed guidelines may be necessary for training, education and development of local standard operating procedures. Iterative simulation-based testing and re-design is likely to be of assistance when developing aids for other crises, and to eliminate design failure as a confounder when investigating the relationship between use of cognitive aids and performance.

scholarly journals Metacognition in Human Factors: The Rewards and Consequences of Repeated Assessment

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 1276-1277
Author(s):  
Lisa Vangsness ◽  
Michael E. Young
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Search Task ◽  
Visual Search Task ◽  
Impact Performance ◽  
Metacognitive Judgments ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Metacognitive Assessment ◽  
Focal Task ◽  
Repeated Assessment

Recent publications have encouraged researchers to consider how metacognition affects users’ judgments of usability and workload by integrating metacognitive assessments with traditional testing paradigms. However, the repercussions of collecting these measures concurrently are unknown. We used a visual search task to determine how the frequency of metacognitive assessments affected metacognitive accuracy and performance. Frequent assessments did not impact performance on the focal task; however, they did reduce the accuracy of participants’ metacognitive judgments by about 7%. This finding suggests that researchers should consider context when selecting a metacognitive assessment strategy.

Integrating the SEEV Model with Performance Improvement Methods to Increase Hand Hygiene in the Operating Room

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 1182-1186
Author(s):  
Zach Kaznica ◽  
Orysia Bezpalko ◽  
Grayson Privette ◽  
Kimberly Wilson ◽  
James Won
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Performance Improvement ◽  
Hand Hygiene Compliance ◽  
Operating Rooms ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Improvement Methodologies ◽  
Hygiene Compliance ◽  
And Performance

The Main Hospital operating rooms at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia identified a decrease in hand hygiene compliance during the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2017. To address this, a combined approach of Human Factors and process improvement methodologies was used to increase compliance, with a global aim of achieving 100% compliance by the end of FY 2018. The Human Factors and Performance Improvement team relied upon a combined approached of methodologies and tools including: the SEEV model (Saliency, Effort, Expectancy, and Value), in-person observation, spaghetti diagrams, link analyses, and a survey to gain qualitative and quantitative data to drive the improvement work. Targeted interventions increased hand hygiene compliance in two pilot rooms by nearly 23%; following spread to the rest of the operating rooms, overall compliance was measured at 100%.

The Nighttime Pedestrian Collision: Human Factors Issues and a Case Study

2001 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 833-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf G. Mortimer
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Factors Analysis ◽  
Ambient Lighting ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Road Characteristics

Injuries to pedestrians in collisions with motor vehicles are a significant problem in traffic safety, accounting for about 13% of fatalities, with more than half occurring at night. There are many variables that affect the visibility of pedestrians in darkness such as: the reflectance of their clothing, their position on the roadway, atmospheric conditions, road characteristics, street lighting, motor vehicle headlamps and their aim and alignment; other ambient lighting and background conditions, glare of headlamps of oncoming traffic and from street lamps, the driving environment and activities and performance of the driver. These issues are discussed, the techniques used to make a human factors analysis are described and some are illustrated by a case study of a night, pedestrian collision on a rural road.

The Content and Context of Performance: An Autobiographical Account of Scientific Development

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 197-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.A. Hancock
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Scientific Development ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Human Factors And Ergonomics ◽  
High Workload ◽  
Motor Learning And Control ◽  
And Performance ◽  
And Control

What I seek to achieve in this article is an exploration of how some of the distilled and assembled principles of behavior can be applied to human goals, aspirations, and performance writ large. I look to do this through an analysis of various areas of application, although the primary framework upon which I erect this discourse is my own autobiographical progress in science. My grounding in formal research was derived from motor learning and control and it then developed into an examination of all human interaction with technical systems under the general titlehuman factors/ergonomics. In showing an indissoluble link between the foundations of motor control and the technological mediation of human factors and ergonomics, I hope to inform and inspire their consideration of the greater aspirations for all of kinesiological science. In terms of specifics, I discuss the work my laboratory has produced over a number of decades on issues such as driving, fight, and other human-augmenting technologies, with a special focus on performance under stress and high workload conditions. To conclude, I discuss, dispute, and finally dispense with the proposition that science and purpose (proximal understanding and ultimate meaning) can be dissociated. I hope to demonstrate why the foregoing principles and their ubiquitous application mean that science in general bears a heavy, if unacknowledged burden with respect to the current failings, especially of Western society.

scholarly journals Using action research to develop human factors approaches to improve assembly quality during early design and

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy Lynn Village ◽  
Filippo A. Salustri ◽  
W. P. Neumann
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Initiation Site ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Assembly Lines ◽  
Assembly Quality ◽  
Early Design ◽  
Action Research Approach ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Assembly Tasks

Engineers at a large electronics new product initiation site were interested in developing human factors (HF) approaches to help improve assembly quality during two stages of their production assembly design: early design of tasks, fixtures and tooling; and during early ramp-up of new assembly lines at outsourcing sites. Researchers worked in an action research approach with company engineers and er­gonomists to integrate HF into both design stages. This paper presents the human factors approaches and discusses the challenges of using human factors to improve assembly quality. For the first stage of early design, a HF-design for assembly (HF-DFA) scorecard was developed with 22 items scored on a O (no risk or problem) to 2 (high risk or problems) scale. Items included physical risks, such as grip size and force, movement risks, such as re-grasping or re-orienting, visual risks, such as visual accuracy and inspection difficulty, and cognitive issues such as ability to detect a problem and risk of damage to part or component. High scores were associated with assembly tasks that were both reported as difficult by operators, and also had quality problems. The HF-DFA was adopted as a controlled engineering document and used to proactively score assembly tasks prior to final design of tasks, fixtures and tooling. In the second stage of early ramp, researchers combined the HF-DFA and other HF and performance-based metrics into a modified HF-house of quality (HF-HoQ) approach where the focus was on "worker" requirements rather than the traditional customer requirements. The HF-HoQ was evaluated using video of four identical tasks performed at different outsourcing locations that had a seven-fold difference in defect rates. The HF-HoQ successfully detected the site with the highest defect rate, but not the lowest. The authors recommend further testing and development of approaches that attempt to bring insight from HF to the issue of improving assembly quality. Relevance to industry: Human factors is broader than injury prevention, and has been linked to assembly quality. Two HF approaches were developed to help improve quality in early design stages and during early ramp-up of assembly lines . Companies are encouraged to develop and evaluate HF approaches for improving assembly quality.

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