SH02: HF for Dummies. Part 2. Human Error.

Part 2 of the Dummies series, all about Human Error, the slips, lapses, mistakes and violations that are made.

In this episode, we tackle the issue of labeling mishaps as 'human error' and why this term often falls short in helping us prevent future mistakes. Instead of simply attributing accidents to human error, we delve into Professor James Reason's groundbreaking work on error types.

Reason's categories include unintended actions, like slips (resulting from distractions) and lapses (memory failures), which can be reduced through environment adjustments and effective checklists. On the other hand, intended actions are divided into rule-based mistakes (applying incorrect rules) and knowledge-based mistakes (thinking you're doing the right thing, but it's wrong). These errors can be mitigated through thorough dive planning, briefings, and debriefings.

Lastly, we explore violations, where rules are seemingly broken on purpose, often revealing deeper organizational issues. Join us as we dissect the complexities of human error and how understanding its nuances can lead to safer practices in high-risk industries like diving.

Original blog URL: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/hf-in-diving-for-dummies-part-2-human-error

Links:

My biggest mistake blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/my-biggest-mistake

Description of types of errors and further reading: https://skybrary.aero/articles/human-error-types

Tags: - English Dummies Gareth Lock Human Error