(13b) Task-Based Approach to Addressing Human Performance in Design

This presentation outlines the benefits to a task-based approach to addressing safety in the context of human performance risks.  Human Factors Engineering (HFE) has long been considered in the process industry as a means to consider the capabilities and limitations of the human within the design and operation of systems.  Specifically, it is proposed that typical hazard analyses are ripe with the opportunity for utilizing a task-based approach to identifying human error and human performance safety risks.  The United States regulator of the Oil and Gas industry has formally recognized the importance of integrating HFE in the design and operation of facilities.  This was formally recognized in the promulgation of Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s (BSEE) rule on Safety Environment Management Systems (SEMS) in 2010 which highlights the importance of Human Factors .  In particular, for the element of hazard analysis it states that “human factors should be considered in this analysis”.  Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) Report No. 454, Human Factors Engineering in Projects (2011) provides appropriate guidance within the HAZOP framework to address human factors in hazard analysis.

A fundamental approach to human factors analysis, task analysis is the documentation and dissection of tasks and subtasks required to execute a system function.  This analysis provides the opportunity to highlight specific requirements of the task (which may be levied on the user) that must be provided in the resulting design.  Particular attention to those safety critical tasks, meaning those that if omitted or executed incorrectly will result in a catastrophic loss or high risk event.  Typically, however, the tools and activities implemented in a HFE program focused around utilizing design standards and practices as a means to address issues that may exist.  These standards and practices arguably represent lessons learned and research in the consideration of human capabilities and the opportunities for error.  However, even if human factors design is implemented proactively using this prescriptive approach, the ability to identify and ultimately mitigate latent hazards becomes more difficult and perhaps impossible.  In line with a task-based approach, an assessment of human reliability and human error during HAZOP and design reviews can provide the additional level of protection for mitigating hazards.  The paper proposes a way for the industry to be more proactive in affecting the reduction of hazards in design and operation through the appropriate consideration of human element.