High-Hazard Complex Systems Design: HF Integration in Practice

Abstract

When designing and building complex systems in high-hazard industries, it is essential that the risks from and to the humans operating that system are minimised through design. This requires comprehensive and timely application of human factors (HF) principles across the entire scope of a design-build project. Such projects benefit from early, fully-integrated and systematically-applied HF specialist support. In the UK, this is known as implementing a HF integration (HFI) programme. This paper explores some of the challenges in developing and implementing HFI programmes in a variety of high-hazard industries. The goal is to identify areas of HFI programme development that might benefit most from a framework of tools, models or guidance, making effective, proportionate HFI programmes easier to achieve.