TY - RPRT
T1 - Human Error Mechanisms in Complex Work Environments
AU - Rasmussen, Jens
PY - 1987
Y1 - 1987
N2 - Human error taxonomies have been developed from analysis of industrial incident reports as well as from psychological experiments. In the paper, the results of the two approaches are reviewed and compared. In both cases, it is found, a fairly low number of basic psychological mechanisms will account for the majority of action errors observed. In addition, error mechanisms appear to be intimately related to the development of high skill and know-how in a complex work context. This relationship between errors and human adaptation is discussed in detail for individuals and organizations. The implications for system safety is briefly mentioned, together with the implications for system design.
AB - Human error taxonomies have been developed from analysis of industrial incident reports as well as from psychological experiments. In the paper, the results of the two approaches are reviewed and compared. In both cases, it is found, a fairly low number of basic psychological mechanisms will account for the majority of action errors observed. In addition, error mechanisms appear to be intimately related to the development of high skill and know-how in a complex work context. This relationship between errors and human adaptation is discussed in detail for individuals and organizations. The implications for system safety is briefly mentioned, together with the implications for system design.
KW - Risø-M-2679
M3 - Report
SN - 87-550-1385-6
T3 - Risø-M
BT - Human Error Mechanisms in Complex Work Environments
T2 - Post-Smirt 9 Seminar
Y2 - 1 August 1987 through 1 August 1987
ER -