Errors

Errors
Even with the best designed systems errors, where humans are
involved, errors will occur.
1. Traditionally, human factors research has focused on human error
reduction.
a. Requires two processes:
1) Error detection
2) Error correction
a) change Hardware or Software
b) modify Liveware by additional
training

c) are there other ways?

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Error Tolerance: A Viable Alternative?
1. Robert E. Blanchard, Ph.D., CAMI
2. The concept of error tolerance is the notion that human error becomes of interest as a direct relation to the impact of its consequences or
its costs.

a.

By rendering human errors "inconsequential" by some means, their impact on system safety and performance can be reduced.

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1.
The concept of error tolerance shifts some of the attention away from error reduction and concentrates on retrieving errors that have
been made and in reducing or avoiding their consequences.

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2. Vulnerability
a. defined by:
1) the likelihood that a mistake or slip will be made in performing the task
2) the likelihood that the mistake or slip will be detected or identified before onset of consequences
3) the likelihood that the mistake or slip will be detected and retrieved (remedied, corrected) before onset of the associated consequences

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b. Examples
1) Tolerant System - likelihood of making error high; detection/correction high = LOW LEVEL OF VULNERABILITY
2) Intolerant System - likelihood of making error high; detection/correction low = HIGH LEVEL OF VULNERABILITY

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6. Level of Consequence/Costliness

1) We might tolerate loss of time, or wasted materials

2) Probably would not tolerate equipment damage or personal injury

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7. Designing for error tolerance

a. In designing error tolerance, it is explicitly accepted that errors will occur; automation is used to monitor the human crew and to detect
errors as they are made
b. The goal is to reduce the likelihood of error, increase the likelihood of detection/correction, protect against high consequence outcome

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c. Example:
1) Stall warning when aircraft is approaching a stall (error) with a potentially serious outcome (a spin).
2) Alarm alerts pilot so they can retrieve the error before onset of consequences by lowering the nose of the aircraft, thereby avoiding the
consequences of the error.
3) Or you could remove the high-level consequence (a spin) and render the error of stalling the aircraft a non-problem.