Introduction

Abstract

AbstractHuman involvement in the life cycle of complex technical systems: nuclear power plants, air, space and ground vehicles, infrastructure objects, etc., creates a specific phenomenon known as human factors. It covers various manifestations of human nature when interacting with the systems: from errors to deliberate malicious actions, which significantly affect their operation. This chapter is an introduction to the subject of the book. The history and definitions of human factors and connected terms are presented. Negative aspects of human factors—the main cause of accidents and catastrophes—are outlined, as well as positive effect of human control under the systems, through which the adverse consequences of emergency events can be prevented. To reduce the horrid price: victims and material damage, that society has to pay for the safer technical systems, it is necessary to take into account risk caused by human factors and identify potential for managing it in the earliest stage of the life of the system—during its design. Based on this goal, the book considers the relationship between human factors and design. The principal questions that the book answers are highlighted, its plan is given, and the intended readers are indicated.