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Human Error Training Term Paper for Safety 401

Abstract

It is an industry-accepted fact that the most prevalent factor in aviation mishaps is the human factor. The most interesting point of this statement is that human factor has, in the history of aviation, always been present, and within the last 50 years, accounted for over 80 percent of why a mishap occurred. The subject has been so widely studied with programs and processes to prevent human factor mishaps, that within the United states Department of Defense alone, each service has their own staff of experts and resources allocated to study and develop the Holy Grail of mishap prevention. So why, with all these civil and military resources, can we not improve upon the already statistically low rate of human error causal factor in mishaps? It is the contention of this paper that while the primary reasons human factor mishaps occur cannot be eliminated, they can be controlled with a user level understanding of human factors provided by a through, formal, and integrated human error training process that is integrated with other risk prevention training and processes.

Human Error Training
Introduction
Today's industry has embraced ORM, CRM, and a myriad of other programs designed to reduce or eliminate risk factors that may lead to mishaps. Knowledge and cultural influences are keys to prevention. In 1997, the Defense Science Board, which is DOD's premier body of scientific advisers, found that ''leadership is the single most important factor affecting aviation safety.'' This suggests that it may be important to find new ways to let top leaders in DOD know that safety is a high priority and to hold these leaders accountable (H.A.S.C. No. 108–29, 180th Congress, 2nd Session, February 11, 2004). Making organizational changes may also help promote aviation safety. Supervisors, managers, executives, and leaders at all levels must learn the basics of human factors to enable self-assessment of the...