Essay on a Human Error, and the Factor Analysis and Classification System Method

In the context of Factor Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), human error can be identified as an adverse event that occurs due to human failures and which can lead to great losses. Human failures can occur due to various reasons causing three primary types of errors namely skill-based, decision and perceptual errors. The definition is, however, broad as it covers other human failures such as poor choices, procedures and inadequate problem-solving skills.

The Human Factor Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) is a tool that was designed to help in investigating, training and preventing human errors and factors that increases chances of accidents in organizations ("Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) - SKYbrary Aviation Safety," 2017). The HFACS framework classifies human errors into four levels namely unsafe acts of operators, unsafe supervision, preconditions for unsafe acts and organizational influences. The designers of HFACS model Doug Wiegmann and Scott Shappell postulated that at every level of human error, at any one time, one failure would occur at every level leading to an accident (Wiegmann, & Shappell, 2009). However, in the event that one of the failures is realized early enough and corrected, it helps in preventing the occurrence of the accident.

The first level of human error according to HFACS framework is the unsafe acts. In this level, human errors are further subdivided into violations and errors. The violations are seen as those willing behaviors that disregard the rules and regulations while errors unwilful, both of which can lead to accidents. The unsafe acts errors can occur due to faulty decision making, skills, and perpetual errors. Conversely, violations can occur due to exceptional violations where they are unintentional or routine violations where an operator forms a habit that goes unnoticed by the management.

The level two classification, also known as preconditions for unsafe Acts has further three sub-categories namely condition of operators, environmental factors, and personnel factors. The three subcategories cover the operation settings, automation, the mental and physiological condition of the operator, situations, coordination, communication and adherence to the work requirements (International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, Sgobba & Rongier, 2015). Besides, there is a third level of the HFACS classification that comprises of inadequate supervision, inappropriate operation plan, failure to correct known problems as well as a supervisory violation ("Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) - SKYbrary Aviation Safety," 2017). The final HFACS level is the organizational influences that include sub-levels such as organization climate, resource management, and operational processes.

HFCAS can be proactive in that it can be utilized in identifying and analyzing historical events and trends in human system deficiencies and performance to spot the weaknesses that can cause accidents. Consequently, appropriate measures can be applied to minimize cases of adverse events. Besides, HFACS can be used proactively to provide future accident guidance and investigations to reduce human errors. The HFACS framework can, however, be reactive in the cases of unsafe supervisory which has become a significant cause of human errors. Another reactive aspect of the HFCAS framework is the failure to identified issues and causes of adverse events in organizations.

References

Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) - SKYbrary Aviation Safety. (2017). Skybrary.aero. Retrieved 15 April 2017, from http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Human_Factors_Analysis_and_Classification_System_(HFACS)

International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety., In Sgobba, T., & In Rongier, I. (2015). Space safety is no accident: The 7th IAASS Conference.

Wiegmann, D., & Shappell, S. (2009). A human error approach to aviation accident analysis (1st ed.). Aldershot [u.a.]: Ashgate.