Human Error – Excuse or Reason?

Posted February 22nd, 2010

Have you ever used the “Google Alert” service to receive an alert about some subject?  Each week, I receive a message that contains links to news when “human error” is mentioned.   It is mentioned very often to explain causes of deaths, disasters, accidents, near misses, surprise lottery winners, and other items.  When the luge athlete from the nation of Georgia was killed in the accident on the Olympic luge track, news accounts said his death was caused by “human error.”   Although the subject is still being debated, the error seemed to have been committed by the luge athlete.  He was described as young, inexperienced, fearful of the fast course.

If the young man’s error or errors caused his death, why was the course shortened?  Why was a barrier wall and padding installed after the accident?   Perhaps other humans, in a quest for a fast track, might have made some design or planning errors.  It bothers me when “human error” is used for a way to explain away an accident and avoid a careful analysis.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 12:28 pm and is filed under Human Factors, In the News.