(32b) Deviance Normalization and Low Risk Perception, the Challenges in Human Factor Investigation and Safeguards Design.

A discussion between Ávila from UFBA and Jennifer from Eastman (A vs J) about the phenomenon of Normalization of Deviations indicates that the origin of this phenomenon is in the social dimension and impacts technological processes. The lack of research on current social relations that affects the cognitive quality of the group of workers indicates a possible reason for current events with fatalities in plants considered to be world references in process safety. In these cases, these plants that had indicators of zero accidents with fatalities are changing positions to the presence of accidents with fatalities, classified as an unexpected occurrence in the chemical process industry.

This investigation (A vs J) indicates important points involved in the birth and development of the Normalization of Deviations that have the same social origin for the low perception of risks. Among the points of discussion are: (1) Variability of Human Behavior: how to compensate for the variability of human behavior and impacts on process safety; (2) Review of Classical Tools in Process Safety: what adaptations are necessary for process and public safety tools, where classical tools are considered inefficient due to social phenomena that lead to the normalization of deviations and low perception of risk; (3) Learnings of Operational Discipline between Public Safety Services and Safe Behaviors in Industry Activity: adaptations for operational discipline and the relationship with the performance of procedures in industrial and military activities, indicating the differences in the formation of operational conduct in both cases; (4) Process Management and Safety Project for Assertive Decisions: the flow of essential information for critical decisions in routine and emergency situations needs to be reviewed due to the complexity of legal requirements and consequences; (5) Construction of a noise-free Mental Map: analysis of actions based on assertive scenarios without the influence of environmental noise in its construction.

Research carried out in chemical processing industries (isocyanates) and the processing of flammable industry products (LPG) indicates the need to develop new tools to avoid loss of quality in cognitive processing. Human Behavior Variability was discussed at LACPS in Colombia in 2024, where strategies involving Dynamic Risk Analysis in Sociotechnical Systems were applied, suggesting the application of differentiated methods to avoid fluctuations in behavior. The vaccine used was based on the SARS Method and the C4t technique developed by Ávila and applied in the Chemical and LPG Industry.