Integrating Human Factors Concepts into Improving Risk Management and Safety Performance

Abstract

The international energy industry has made significant efforts over the last 10 years to improve risk management and safety performance. The industry continues to improve and increase emphasis on Occupational Safety and Process Safety programs in support of improving risk management. Significant increases in work in areas of organizational development will help integrate human factors concepts into enterprise risk management frameworks and help improve safety and operational performance. Key elements of organizational development, including leadership and culture, require involvement across the entire organization. The Society of Petroleum Engineers conducted several industry-wide summits and workshops to address human factors. The SPE Technical Report included in the list of references is one source for perspectives on future industry work on human factors. (Society of Petroleum Engineers - Technical Reports Committee 2014) Many organizations are working to integrate human factors. These include the National Academies, Chemical Safety Board, Ocean Energy Safety Institute, API, Center for Offshore Safety, military organizations, aviation industry, Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors, and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. The range of activity considered for this analysis, while not a complete source of risk management activities, provides an thorough knowledge base of activities related to the application of human factors.