Guide to Applying Human Factors Methods

Human error plays a significant role in many accidents involving safety-critical systems. Because of this, it is now a standard requirement in both the US and Europe for Human Factors (HF) to be taken into account in system design and safety assessment. This book will be an essential guide for anyone who uses HF in their everyday work, providing them with consistent and ready-to-use procedures and methods that can be applied to real-life problems. The first part of the book looks at the theoretical framework, methods and techniques that the engineer or safety analyst needs to use when working on a HF-related project, and also generates guidelines for using them in the key areas of design, safety assessment, training and accident investigation. The second part presents four case studies that show the reader how the above framework and guidelines work in practice. The case studies are based on real-life projects carried out by the author for a major European railway system, and in collaboration with international companies such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation, Volvo, Daimler-Chrysler and FIAT. Focusing on the four key areas outlined above, they cover: - The design of a human-machine interface for the automotive environment - Non technical training in civil aviation - A recurrent safety audit in a railway system - Accident investigation in the energy production and aviation domains In addition to designers and safety engineers, this book will also be useful to regulators who need to develop new safety standards and requirements for technologically advanced and complex systems. It will also provide useful background reading for Masters and PhD students on engineering and safety, cognitive ergonomics and environmental safety courses. Table of Contents 1. Guide to Applying Human Factors Methods: Introduction 2. Elements of Human Machine Systems 3. Theories and Methods for Human Machine Systems 4. Guidelines for the Application of HF Methods in HMS 5. Application of HERMES for the Design of HMI Systems: Anti-Collision Warning in Automotive Environments 6. Application of HERMES in Training: A Human Factors Course in the Aviation Domain 7. Application of HERMES for Safety Assessment: The Safety Audit of a Large Railway Organisation 8. Application of HERMES for Accident Investigation: The case of a Thermoelectric power plant