Complicated Technology, Human Error, Lax Oversight

In the Wall Street Journal (June 16, 2010) an article about past disaster panel members contains something that people in hazardous industries should already know.  But we forget.  The panelists believe the Deepwater Horizon panel will find these causes:“an over-reliance on complicated technology that fails, human error, and lax oversight by regulators.” Those are similar causes to the Three Mile Island accident, the Challenger explosion, and other organizational accidents.  If you study accident reports, this is not surprising. (more…)

Posted June 24th, 2010 in Human Factors, In the News

Dirty Dozen – Lack of Assertiveness

Read the attached article to learn about the importance of assertiveness in the workplace.  Assess whether you are passive, assertive, or aggressive.

Lack of Assertiveness

Lack of Assertiveness Article

Posted June 24th, 2010 in Dirty Dozen Articles

“Biggest Cause of Serious Error…Is A Failure of Communication”

Finn O’Sullivan is a project executive for a company that builds skyscrapers.  He is quoted in The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right, by Atul Gawande. Those who construct skyscrapers rely on one checklist to make sure all the many steps in planning and construction are completed. (more…)

Posted June 16th, 2010 in Human Factors, Leadership, Operational Excellence