Abstract
A model for identifying, analyzing, and quantifying the mechanisms for the influence of improper workplace environment on human error in elevator installation is proposed in this study. By combining a modification of a human error model with real-world inspection data collected by an elevator installation company, the influence paths of improper workplace environment on the conditional probability of human error were quantified using a Bayesian network parameter-learning estimation method and posterior predictive simulation. Under the condition of an improper workplace environment, the probability of human error increased by 80% of its original value, a factor much higher than that resulting from improper management. The most probable influence was found to be improper workmanship and changes in the information required by the worker, thus triggering cognitive failure and consequent unsafe actions by workers. The proposed methodology (posterior predictive simulation) provides a new approach in construction studies for quantifying the probabilistic levels of various causal paths, and the results show the key mechanism for the influence of improper workplace environment on human error using real-world mechanical installation data.
Highlights
Since theoretical and empirical studies of cybernetics have indicated that a safety-oriented workplace environment is one of the most economic and effective means for controlling accidents [8, 9], experienced workers may still resort to unsafe behavior in response to the work environment conditions and the process demands even under conditions in which unsafe behavior is strictly prohibited [2, 10], highlighting the importance of the workplace environment in the elimination of human error
Existing research reports absolute figures for the influence of improper design on human error, quantification of the effects of the other three root nodes on human error is necessary so that the existing research can be corroborated. With regard to these node variables, conditional probability table (CPT) provides the probabilities of parent nodes and those of the subnodes under different conditions, which to some extent are representative of conditions on-site. erefore, from the assignment of the root nodes, the probabilities of the other nodes can be obtained
When a workplace environment is improper, the root node is assigned as 1 (K4 1). e probability of unsafe behavior caused by human under the error sequence class under the assumption of an improper workplace environment can be calculated within a sequence class
Summary
Previous studies revealed that if the factors of facilities, work methods and operations, processes, equipment, tools, products, new technologies, and work organization that lead to human error in the work environment can be eliminated by an effective workplace environment, the probability of human error can be greatly reduced, and the occurrence of accidents can be controlled [5, 6]. Since theoretical and empirical studies of cybernetics have indicated that a safety-oriented workplace environment is one of the most economic and effective means for controlling accidents [8, 9], experienced workers may still resort to unsafe behavior in response to the work environment conditions and the process demands even under conditions in which unsafe behavior is strictly prohibited [2, 10], highlighting the importance of the workplace environment in the elimination of human error
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