Optimizing Human Performance

We hear all the time about human error--in fact, it often seems to be the final finding of many incident investigations. As Tom Harvey, CSP, of Allied Safety Associates, explained during Safety 2013, human error is inevitable.

So how do you best deal with it? He advocates (in his proceedings paper) using Optimizing Human Performance (OP), a risk-based process that aims to prevent, detect and control human error before adverse events occur. Says Harvey, “OP takes into account human error, hazards and specific mitigation strategies to reduce those risks.”

According to Harvey, the core of OP is people:
People are going to make mistakes.
Error-likely situations can be predicted and events can be eliminated.
Organizational values strongly influence performance.
Positive and negative reinforcement determine behavior.
Learning from the past will stop future events.
Everyone can benefit from OP.

Consider these 10 OP tools:

1. Questioning attitude. Constantly ask "what if" before acting. 
2. Job planning analysis. Assess a job’s big picture risks. 
3. Pre-task brief. Identify human performance traps that create error-likely situations and determine how to apply OP tools to prevent error. 
4. Self-check. Perform a real-time check on the immediate task at hand. 
5. Procedure use. Use written lists that provide step-by-step task details. 
6. Placekeeping. Use a circle and slash to track the proper sequence of tasks. 
7. Peer check. Employ an in-process verification of intent and actions. 
8. Effective communications. Use closed-loop communications comprised of a set of verbal messaging principles and specific techniques. 
9. Post-job review. Collaborate on ways to improve a task after it is completed. 
10. OP coaching. Train employees to readily deliver and accept constructive feedback. 

If you weren't able to attend this session during PDC, be sure to look for Tom's paper on the proceedings CD or look in the July 2013 issue of Professional Safety for information on ordering recorded sessions.