Human Factors in Energy Distribution
Human Factors training can assist organisations involved in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and natural gas to reduce accidents and incidents throughout the field work force. Human Factors training differs from traditional safety training in that the focus is less with the technical knowledge and skills required to perform specific operations, but rather with the cognitive and interpersonal skills needed to effectively manage a team-based, high-risk activity.
GAT HF training delivers a set of safety skills that include teamwork, situation awareness, decision making, communication and workload management. HF training recognizes that human error is inevitable and that the team is the greatest asset to achieving safety and high reliability in complex and hazardous work environments. It considers the human causes of error and delivers a proactive approach to avoid, trap and mitigate errors.
Human Factors training originated in the aviation industry in the late 1970s after a number of accidents with significant loss of life were attributed to human errors. Research by NASA indicated that the majority of aviation accidents were caused by failures of interpersonal communication, leadership, and decision making. From this research NASA developed the principles of HF training which have been extensively developed in the aviation industry to the extent that it is now a regulatory requirement for commercial flight crews in the US, Europe and worldwide.
Benefits of human factors training
Human Factors training recognises that human error is inevitable and develops a proactive approach to error management that can benefit organisations in a number of ways:
- Increasing awareness and identification of human risks
- Accurate identification of the underlying causes
- Adopting a non-punitive approach to error management
- Developing an organisational ‘learning culture’ that has the support and buy-in of its employees
- Improve human performance
- Reduce risks
- Reduce frequency of human error
- Reduce consequences of human error
- Increase individual and organisational efficiency
