Reliability Engineering Techniques Applied to the Human Failure Analysis Process

Human reliability and human error are factors that are present in all areas: industrial, economic, social, etc. All these areas require to a greater or lesser extent a physical and mental effort to satisfy their own needs, those of others, or established requirements that, depending on the circumstances and the nature of the person, can lead to errors. Certainly, it is not possible to find a single human reliability method that can meet all the expectations and technical demands related to the analysis of human errors. However, it is important to note that the orientation of all human reliability methods is focused on the study and analysis of the risk factor (frequency by consequences). In other words, as can be observed throughout this chapter, all human reliability methodologies seek to help us reduce the uncertainty in the process of evaluating the frequencies of unforeseen events (human errors) and the consequences that such human errors can bring to safety, the environment, and the operations within the framework of an industrial production process.

Evaluation of human factor engineering influence in nuclear safety using probabilistic safety assessment techniques

This paper provides the empirical basis to support predictions of the Human Factor Engineering (HFE) influences in Human Reliability Analysis (HRA). A few methods were analyzed to identify HFE concepts in approaches of Performance Shaping Factors (PSFs): Technique for Human Error Rate Prediction (THERP), Human Cognitive Reliability (HCR) and Cognitive Reliability and Error Analysis Method (CREAM), Success Likelihood Index Method (SLIM) Plant Analysis Risk – Human Reliability Analysis (SPAR-H), A Technique for Human Error Rate Prediction (ATHEANA) and Man-Machine-Organization System Analysis (MMOSA). Also, in order to identify other necessary PSFs in HFE, an additional investigation process of human performance (HPIP) in event occurrences was used. Thus, the human error probability could be reduced and its evaluating can give out the information for error detection and recovery. The HFE analysis model developed using BHEP values (maximum and pessimistic) is based on the simplifying assumption that all specific circumstances of HFE characteristics are equal in importance and have the same value of influence on human performance. This model is incorporated into the PSA through the HRA methodology. Finally, a clarification of the relationships between task analysis and the HFE is performed, ie between potential human errors and design requirements.