On 23 March 2005, a massive explosion and fires killed 15 people and injured another 180 at the BP Texas City Refinery, Texas.
This disaster led to many investigation reports. It has been said that BP failed to learn from numerous warning signs that could have prevented the disaster.
Many years later, I question how much wider industry has learnt – and provide a reflection toolkit based on 12 quotes from the investigations.
There is growing recognition of the need to manage psychological health in the workplace, as well as physical health and safety – which is arguably a more mature topic.
It’s clear though, that many organisations are unsure about where to start when addressing mental health and well-being in the workplace. It’s easy to focus on those interventions that are quick to implement. However, many of these interventions will not have a real impact.
There are nine key principles that organisations can apply to capture the human contribution to adverse events.
These principles will help you to apply human factors in the investigation process. They also demonstrate how organisations learn (and fail to learn) from adverse events.
The design of work and workplaces can have a significant impact on our lives, including contributing to the causes of suicide. Employers have a duty to manage work-related factors that can impact on suicide-related thoughts.
“Beyond Now” is an app created by Beyond Blue to support people through these feelings.
Following a medication error that led to the death of a patient, the nurse who administered the medication was sacked. Following an investigation by the Department of Health, no action was taken against the nurse or the hospital.
However, following an anonymous complaint, another investigation found deficiencies in hospital systems and also led to the nurse being charged with criminal homicide. No disciplinary action was taken against the hospital, but the nurse was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide. This article examines the series of events and comments on the impact of this case on the health profession and patient safety.
Despite our lives being shaped by the choices that we make, many people do not receive any training in making decisions. This article proposes that writing down key decisions in a diary, to be reviewed at a later date, provides an opportunity to learn and improve our decision-making process.
Five years ago, I launched this website with a series of articles about the Nimrod XV230 disaster.
Today, on the 15th anniversary of this tragedy, I’d like to reflect on the key recommendations. From the subtitle of the independent Review – “A failure of leadership, culture and priorities” – it’s obvious that there may be lessons for us all. The question is, have we learned these lessons?
A focus on individual behaviours is not the most effective approach to address workplace health and safety, unless all other necessary measures have been taken. Addressing behaviours should not be used to compensate for poorly-designed work or workplaces.
This article outlines the importance of the Hierarchy of Controls to determine the most effective measures to address workplace health and safety, and considers the position of individual behaviours within this hierarchy.
I’m really pleased to announce that this website is the joint winner of the Outstanding Communications Award 2021 from the UK Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors.
Writing content and maintaining the site takes considerable effort, but recognition like this keeps me motivated to continue producing materials. Thank You !!
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused stress, anxiety, worry and depression for millions of people around the world as they confront illness, bereavement, unemployment and uncertainty.
However, the coronavirus may be causing another global crisis – inadequate sleep.
This article addresses the impact of lockdowns, home-working and quarantine on our sleep – and provides some practical solutions.
Martin Anderson 