An

Introduction
to
Human
Factors
Interaction between humans,
the task, the equipment and
the environment
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Aim
To give an introduction into what
Human Factors are and what can affect
them.

Kabul Afghanistan International

Airport
Fire Department

Objectives
At the end of this presentation you
will be aware of:

The need for Human Factors

What are Human Factors
Understanding Human Factors
The errors that can occur with the
interaction of the interfaces.
Kabul Afghanistan International
Airport
Fire Department

The need for

Human Factors ?

Kabul Afghanistan International

Airport
Fire Department

Need for Human Factors?

Human factors when understood
can greatly benefit the person in
a system. These benefits include:
Effectiveness of the system
Safety
Efficiency
Well-being of crew members.
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Airport Fire Department

Effectiveness
of the System

Kabul Afghanistan International

Airport
Fire Department

What are Human Factors?

4 key elements in understanding
Human Factors

Liveware the person, you and I

Hardware physical, e.g. your chair
Software non-physical, e.g. SOP
Environment situation in which the
L-H-S system interact.
Kabul Afghanistan International
Airport
Fire Department

Human Factors Model

Kabul Afghanistan International

Airport Fire Department

What are Human Factors?

Liveware the person, you and I
In centre of the model is the person - L
The critical and most flexible
component in the model.
We are subject to variation in
performance
Edges of the blocks H-S-E are ragged
Blocks in model must be carefully
matched if breakdown is to be avoided.
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Airport Fire Department

6. Characteristics of
Liveware
1. Physical size and shape
2. Physical needs
3. Input characteristics
4. Information processing
5. Output characteristics
6. Environmental tolerances
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1. Physical size and shape

Design of a workplaces and
equipment, vital role played by
physical size & movement
These vary in age, ethnicity and
gender
Decisions made early stage of design
process
Data for these decisions are available
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2. Physical needs
Peoples requirements for essential
items:
Food
Water
Oxygen
Depending on physiology and
biology.
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3. Input characteristics
We have sensory system for collecting
information
Enables us to respond to external events and
to carry out a required task
All senses are subject to degradation
Sources of sensory knowledge are
Physiology
Sensory psychology
Biology
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4. Information processing
Human capabilities have severe
limitations.
Failure to account for human limitations
can lead to poor system design.
Short and long-term memory are
involved, as well as motivation and
stress.
Psychology is the source of background
knowledge here.
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5. Output characteristics
Information
processed
Muscles
Communicati
on

Desired
response

Physical
movement

Acceptable control forces and

direction of movement have to be
known.
Biomechanics, physiology and
psychology provide such
knowledge.
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6. Environmental tolerances
Environmental factors such as:

Temperature
Pressure
Humidity
Noise
Time of day
Light and darkness

Can be reflected in performance and well-being

and can influence behaviour and performance.
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Liveware interaction
Liveware Hardware:
This interface is the one most
commonly considered when speaking
of human-machine systems
Liveware Software:
This covers humans and the nonphysical aspects of the system such as
SOPs
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17

Liveware interaction
Liveware Environment
This interface was one of the earliest recognized
in flying.
Later, the trend was to reverse this process
Today, new challenges have arisen

Liveware Liveware
Fire Dept training carried on an team basis.
If each individual is competent, the team is
competent
This is not always true
Fire crews function as groups, group influences
play a role in performance.
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Safety
Illustration of incident due to LivewareLiveware failing
A Fire fighter awaiting water on is
injured by the discharge from a monitor.
Failures can include:
The interaction of the pump operator
and the pump controls, and their
apparent unclear labelling.
Command being given being
outweighed by the pump operator being
preoccupied with establishing side line
supply to operative.
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Efficiency
Efficiency is also radically influenced by the
application of, or the lack of, Human Factors
The following paragraphs are intended as
an overview of particular applications of
Human Factors knowledge which relate to
efficiency.

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20

Well-being of Crew Members

Some factors influencing the mental &
physical well-being of Crew members
include :
Fatigue
Sleep deprivation or disturbance
Temperature
Noise
Stress
Workstation design
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Control of Human Error

Some factors affecting Human Error:
Carelessness
Negligence or poor judgement
Poorly designed equipment or may result
from
A normal reaction of a person to a particular
situation
The latter kind of error is likely to be repeated

and its occurrence can be anticipated.

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Errors at Model Interface

Each of the interfaces in the SHEL

model has a potential of error where
there is a mismatch between its
components.

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Information Processing
Before a person can react to
information, it must first be
sensed; there is potential for error
here because the sensory systems
function within a narrow range.
After conclusions have been
formed about the meaning of a
message, decision-making begins.
Many factors may lead to
erroneous decisions:
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Example of poor Information

Processing
Because of the high cost of aviation
gasoline, a private Jet pilot once wrote
to his aviation administration and
asked if he could mix kerosene in his
aircraft fuel.
He received the following reply:

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Regrettably decision involves uncertainties.

Kerosene utilization consequences
questionable, with respect to metalloferrous
components and power production.
The Jet pilot did not process the information he
had just received efficiently and replied:
Thanks. This will sure cut my fuel bill.
He then received this urgent, and far clearer,
communication from his aviation
administration office:
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DONT USE KEROSENE. IT

COULD KILL THE ENGINE
AND YOU TOO!

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Controlling Human Error

The control of human error requires two different
approaches:
1. Minimize occurrence of errors by:
. High levels of staff competence
. Design controls to match human characteristics
. Provide proper checklists, procedures, SOPs etc.
. Reduce stressful conditions

2. Reduce consequences of remaining

errors by:
Cross-monitoring Crews
Close Crew co-operation.
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SUMMARY
We have now been introduced into the complex
subject of Human factors. We covered:
What are Human Factors
Which interfaces play a part in Human Factors
The errors that can occur with the interaction
of the interfaces
Name the 4 key elements of Human Factors:

LHSE
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Questions

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Thank you and look forward

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