Human Error – Occurring Regularly

Posted August 10th, 2009

One can sign up for a “Google alert” on any word or subject.  Each Monday, I receive an e-mail with all the occurrences of “human error” on the Internet during the past week.  There are eight to ten examples each week.  The examples range from industrial accidents to academic grades being posted inaccurately.  What do you do when you make an error?  Or when an error occurs in your organization?

It is a poor societal sign when train operators, and others, are texting while on the job.  That is not an error or a mistake; that is negligence and a violation of work standards.   Who is responsible:  the individual or the organization?  Is there a shared responsibility?

I have had the good fortune to help organizations and individuals understand that human error is part of the human condition.  And it is rewarding to help people reduce their errors and improve their performance.  I intend to keep learning from my mistakes and the mistakes of others.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 10th, 2009 at 5:13 pm and is filed under Human Factors, In the News.