Human error figures prominently in most of the well-known catastrophes in the world, such as Bhopal, the Exxon Valdez, and Chernobyl.
In common with most other complex technical activities, human error is implicated in the majority of maintenance-related quality lapses, incidents, and accidents. General estimates of this human error contribution have increased over the years, from a low of around 20% in the 1960s to values in excess of 80% in the 1990s.
Human error figures prominently in most of the well-known catastrophes in the world, such as Bhopal, the Exxon Valdez, and Chernobyl.
In common with most other complex technical activities, human error is implicated in the majority of maintenance-related quality lapses, incidents, and accidents. General estimates of this human error contribution have increased over the years, from a low of around 20% in the 1960s to values in excess of 80% in the 1990s.
Of operator errors are caused by fatigue, falling asleep, loss of attention, stress, broad-spectrum diseases, alcoholism and other psychophysiological disorders.
A typical refinery (10 million tons of oil per year) loses on average $4 million per year due to operator errors.
Every year in the United States, more than 1,500 drowsy road traffic deaths are recorded. (NHTSA)
Up to 95 per cent of such errors are caused by fatigue, falling asleep, loss of attention, stressors, broad-spectrum diseases, alcohol and other psychophysiological abnormalities.
It is possible to avoid such errors by determining in a timely manner the physical condition of personnel managing critical facilities and hazardous mechanisms.
Depending on the goals set, the operator’s condition monitoring can be declarative (tolerance) and predictive (prophylactic). The declarative control is used to check the operator’s readiness to perform this activity (taking over duty, taking off or leaving for a flight, etc.).
Predictive control is carried out in order to predict the occurrence of undesirable conditions in the operator, which can cause a decrease in the effectiveness of his activities.
