What happens when operators misunderstand the design and designers misunderstand the operators? Couple of partial extracts from Busby & Hibberd’s 2002 article which explored accident report sources to construct mismatches between operator and designer assumptions. PS. Check out my YouTube and recent Critical Control / barrier vid: https://youtube.com/@safe_as_pod?si=iUaDPJynPemQRZhY Shout a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/benhutchinson Extracts: · Designers may… Continue reading What happens when operators misunderstand the design and designers misunderstand the operators?
Tag: design
Knowledge in the head vs the world: And how to design for cognition. Norman – Design of Everyday Things
Here Don Norman discusses knowledge in the head vs knowledge in the world – from The Design of Everyday Things. Extracts:· “Every day we are confronted by numerous objects, devices, and services, each of which requires us to behave or act in some particular manner. Overall, we manage quite well” · “Our knowledge is often quite incomplete,… Continue reading Knowledge in the head vs the world: And how to design for cognition. Norman – Design of Everyday Things
Human-centred design and the arbitrariness and fussiness of machine design
More wisdom from Don Norman on human-centred design and his error credo (which in later work he extends to humanity-centred design): · “Pinning the blame on the person may be a comfortable way to proceed, but why was the system ever designed so that a single act by a single person could cause calamity?” · “Eliminate the… Continue reading Human-centred design and the arbitrariness and fussiness of machine design
Learning from experience
More practical wisdom from the late, great Trevor Kletz. This explored a few elements of learning from experience – like the problems of just blaming people or changing procedures. First he targets the focus on changing procedures instead of improving designs. First, our first step should be, wherever reasonably practicable, is to remove the hazard… Continue reading Learning from experience
Constructions of “Human Error” (Mini-Compendium)
Here’s a bunch of linked articles (and a video) unpacking the constructs, or uses, of “human error”. (‘Keep calm’ header image source is my own, from a presentation) Welcome any additions. Shout me a coffee Check out my YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@safe_as_pod?si=sZmhFw3gB3ubXjzK Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2021/08/05/searching-for-the-origins-of-the-myth-80-human-error-impact-on-maritime-safety/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2025/01/31/hollnagel-on-human-error-error-as-cause-process-or-outcome/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2024/09/05/the-emperors-new-clothes-or-whatever-happened-to-human-error/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2024/07/24/human-error-and-violation-of-rules-in-industrial-safety-a-systematic-literature-review/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2024/07/01/design-rules-based-on-analyses-of-human-error/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2024/06/21/understanding-human-error-in-naval-aviation-mishaps/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2024/05/24/state-of-science-evolving-perspectives-on-human-error/… Continue reading Constructions of “Human Error” (Mini-Compendium)
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