Module 10: Human Error & Cognitive Ergonomics

Question 1

cognitive ergonomics

Answer 1

concerned with mental processes, such as attention, perception, memory, reasoning, sensation, and motor response as they affect interactions among humans and other elements of the system

Question 2

types of attention

Answer 2

1) selective attention
2) focused attention
3) divided attention

Question 3

perception

Answer 3

knowing what info means

Question 4

reasoning

Answer 4

decision-making process

Question 5

risk of error goes up when

Answer 5

• tired
• bored
• unfamiliar
• distracted
• rushed
• unclear

Question 6

antecedents

Answer 6

what must first be established in order for a condition to exist (influenced by safety culture)

Question 7

factors that determine workplace safety climate

Answer 7

• management values
• communication
• training and safety systems
• perceptions of safety

Question 8

determinants

Answer 8

factors directly responsible for individual differences in compliance and participation (made up of safety knowledge/skills and motivation)

Question 9

components

Answer 9

the components that are involved with the last stage of error analysis are safety compliance and safety participation

Question 10

errors

Answer 10

intended actions with unintended consequences

Question 11

types of errors

Answer 11

1) skill based
2) rule based
3) knowledge based
4) perceptual based

Question 12

violations

Answer 12

intended actions with intended consequences

Question 13

types of violations

Answer 13

1) routine violations: when people bend the rules
2) exceptional violations: when people break the rules

Question 14

swiss cheese model of organizational accidents

Answer 14

a model used in risk analysis and risk management. Successive layers of defence where weakness in error prevention might be reduced by other barriers

Question 15

active and latent

Answer 15

active: immediate consequences/impact made by front-line individuals (direct cause)

latent: made by people whose tasks are removed in time and space from operational activities (root cause)

Question 16

types of errors/violations based on the swiss cheese model

Answer 16

1) design errors/violations (poor design)
2) organizational/cultural errors/violations (ineffective training)
3) management errors/violations (poor scheduling & supervision)
4) operational errors/violations (using a tool wrong/poor communication)
5) maintenance errors/violations (poor maintenance)
6) culture errors/violations (uncertainty in roles and responsibilities)

Question 17

skill-based error

Answer 17

smooth execution of highly practiced acts with no conscious monitoring (slip/lapse)

Question 18

rule-based error

Answer 18

the situation is well-known but is not automated

Question 19

knowledge-based error

Answer 19

the operator carries out the task in an overly conscious manner as a beginner

Question 20

perception-based error

Answer 20

misjudged distance, depth, etc

Question 21

stages of risk analysis

Answer 21

1. antecedents
2. determinants
3. components

Question 22

types of errors and violations

Answer 22

• Design errors/violations (poor design)
• Organizational/cultural errors/violations (ineffective training)
• Management errors/violations (poor scheduling & supervision)
• Operational errors/violations (using a tool wrong/poor communication)
• Maintenance errors/violations (poor maintenance)
• Culture errors/violations (uncertainty in roles and responsibilities)