In Praise of Positive PIFs (Performance Influencing Factors) in Human Factors Risk Assessments
Performance Influencing Factors (PIFs) are factors that can increase or decrease the likelihood of human error occurring. Negative PIFs increase the likelihood of error; positive PIFs decrease the likelihood of error.
Navigating the Human Factors Roadmap: Part 1
In this blog series, Lydea describes the steps of the HF Roadmap and how the SCTA process aligns with the roadmap.
Safety Critical Task Analysis (SCTA): A former Offshore Inspector’s perspective
I’ve noticed several recent posts claiming that for companies in the UK Oil & Gas sectors “there is a regulatory requirement to carry out Safety Critical Task Analysis”.
This statement needs to be put into context.
Applying Safety Critical Task Analysis (SCTA) to a hazardous task: Indoor Rope Climbing
Recently, I started taking on indoor rope climbing. Having been on both ends of the rope, I was curious about how this would look from a Safety Critical Task Analysis (SCTA) perspective.
Introduction to Human Factors SYSTEMS Critical Task Analysis (SCTA): Going beyond safety
In a world where efficiency, productivity, and excellence are paramount, organisations are constantly seeking methods to optimise their processes, streamline operations, and meet their objectives. One such approach is SYSTEMS Critical Task Analysis (SCTA). CTAs are most typically used for safety assessment. Systems CTA extends this focus to other applications such as enhancing efficiency, improving quality, and optimizing processes.
Communication, Technology and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR)
There was a big refereeing error in the match between Tottenham and Liverpool and Liverpool at the weekend (1st October). A Liverpool goal was ruled out for offside by the on-field refereeing team. In the English Premier League, there is a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system which allows on-field decisions to be scrutinised by a group of officials with access to video technology.
Top 5 takeaways from doing HTAs
Having participated as a facilitator in our in-house Human Factors Safety Critical Task Analysis (SCTA) course, as well as taking part in various SCTA workshops for around two years, I thought I would share my top 5 takeaways from doing and teaching HTAs.
What makes human factors critical task reviews (HFCTR) flourish or stall?
The Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations, governing UK process plants, requires the use of Human Reliability Analysis techniques such as Human Factors Critical Task Review (HFCTR) for COMAH critical tasks. The process of HFCTR involves a task analysis, human failure analysis and Performance Influencing Factors (PIF) analysis of a safety critical task.
Human factors safety critical task analysis (SCTA): Work-as-imagined, work-as-done, work-as-x
An important element to any real world human reliability assessment is to be aware of different perspectives of work, their limitations, and how these limitations can be overcome to generate effective insight and action.
Safety critical task analysis (SCTA): Reflective practice
There are different ways of organising Human Factors Safety Critical Task Analysis (SCTA). This is important for organisations to get right so they have the right balance between efficiency and thoroughness, and so they use appropriate tools and procedures to maximise their impact. SCTA is our forte and we have years of experience in conducting SCTA projects and helping organisations implement their own approaches.
