CHAPTER-7
HUMAN ERRO|R & BEHAVIOURAL SAFETY
Objective
Upon completion of this chapter, the student will be able to:
Understand the implications of safety violations due to human error and behavioural
safety
HUMAN ERROR AND BEHAVIOURAL SAFETY
• Human errors are leading cause of accidents and
incidents
• Human errors can be due to fatigue, stress,
distraction and poor training
• Human factors are greatly affecting the
performance of the industry and also the social
characteristics of the work group and its
members
• Achieving excellence in health and safety greatly
depends of how an organization can change
• The major challenge is to maintain a continuity in
changes that lead to continuous improvement.
There is no place for complacency when it comes
to health and safety of an industry
HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
Domino theory of causation of
accidents by H W Heinrich it is
evident that accidents at
workplace are resulting from a
chain of events and generally
88% of such mishaps results from
unsafe acts. Unsafe acts are
resulting from human error and
behaviour
HUMAN FAILURE
Human failure can be categorized as two:
1. Violations
2. Human Error
Human error is unintended actions or decision which
are not exactly violations that are deliberate in nature.
Human Error is classified into two: Skill-based errors
and Mistakes
Examples of Skill based errors are slips and lapses.
HUMAN FAILURE
SLIPS & LAPSES
Slips are not doing what you are supposed to do.
Examples are omitting one or few steps of a process,
doing things too fast, doing things too slow, not putting
a PPE, performing a task in the wrong direction,
checking a measuring dial and noting a wrong value etc.
Lapses are forgetting to do the things. Examples are
taking a mask to talk and later forgetting to wear it,
forgetting to switch off an equipment, forgetting to turn
of the stove etc.
Slips and lapses might occur if the person is highly
familiar to the task and will perform thoughtlessly, when
the majority work is done and only the last few steps are
left with, lot of interruptions while working etc. It can be
prevented by using checklists, making the layout
sequentially, applying the policy of not using phones
while working, apply engineering controls like bar code
readers after each step etc.
MISTAKES
Mistakes are failures in decision making which are either
rule based or knowledge based and we do things wrongly
thinking that it is right
Examples: Wrong overtaking while driving, Entering a
road in the wrong side
Mistakes happen when a person is doing many things at
the same time and working against the pressure of time
to complete. This often happens due to environmental
conditions, social issues, individual stress, equipment
problems etc.
Rule-based mistakes can be avoided by providing
situational awareness. E.g. Rumble strips on roads
creates awareness of approaching roundabouts.
Knowledge-based mistakes can be avoided by effective
supervision and instructions.
VIOLATIONS
Violations are thoughtfully doing wrong
things and causes a lot of accidents
Examples are not wearing seat belts, not
using harness in scaffolding, allowing
untrained drivers to drive, working without
goggles, working under peer pressure,
thinking as rules are too strict and unwanted
and fail to follow etc.
Violations can be controlled by routine
monitoring and supervision, convince the
workers about the rules, make the
environment more conducive for workers,
provide continuous training, encourage the
workers to report their problems etc.
BEHAVIOURAL SAFETY
Behavioural safety is aimed at prevention or avoidance of unconscious unsafe behaviour that has
resulted from habit formation of doing thing wrongly.
Behavioural safety training can be given by different approaches.
Behavioural safety by systematic and continuous improvement
Behavioural safety based on observations and data collection
Behavioural safety based on workers participation
Behavioural safety based on focusing specific unsafe behaviour
Behavioural safety based on focusing feedback on performance
Behavioural safety based on the involvement of data driven decision making
BEHAVIOURAL SAFETY – IMPORTANT POINTS
• Do things when it is really needed
• Always develop a network for support and guidance
• Believe that the system that you are working is your
own and act accordingly
• Listen to your employers and peers
• Pilot the process and roll out only after securing
completely and when you are fully confident
• Do not underestimate the instructions and plan for
safety
• Perform things in the right manner and develop habits
CONCLUSION
Positive safety culture is developed by healthy
communication between employers and employees,
demonstrating greater commitments by senior managers,
providing higher standards of training, providing good
working conditions, creating stress free work atmosphere etc.
Behavioural safety offers several advantages in terms of
reduced accidents, enhanced quality, reduced time for
completion of a task, improved efficiency, good relationship
between employers and employees, good teamwork,
employee engagement and increased commitments.
