SH114: What relevance does Human Factors have to recreational and technical diving?

In this episode, we explore why Human Factors are crucial in diving, even if you haven’t experienced an accident. Drawing from high-risk industries like NASA and aviation, we highlight how human errors often lead to major incidents, even when no technical failures are present. We discuss real-life diving examples where poor communication, peer pressure, or lack of planning led to dangerous situations. By "sweating the small stuff" and embracing constructive feedback, divers can improve teamwork, decision-making, and safety. We also introduce the Human Factors Skills in Diving courses, which teach these vital skills, showing their importance both in diving and other high-performance environments.

 

Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/what-relevance-does-human-factors-have-to-recreational-and-technical-diving

 

Links: NASA and the Challenger and Columbia disasters 

An Executive Jet crew who forgot to remove the gust lock

Pilot who didn’t drain the water from his fuel tanks http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2012/07/experimental-plane-crash-at-sandy-creek.html

Student who bailed out of his CCR https://www.divingincidents.org/reports/136

Instructor diving with out of date cells https://cognitasresearch.wordpress.com/2015/05/04/ccr-incident-feb-2013-double-cell-failure-human-factors-inquest-report/

Recently qualified AOW diver https://issuu.com/divermedicandaquaticsafety/docs/divermedicmagazine_issue6

Even experts make mistakes http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1397693/Wrong-kidney-surgeon-ignored-me-says-student.html

 

Tags:  English, Diving, Gareth Lock, Human Factors, Performance, Safety