Human error factor identification in complex man-machine systems

The leading features of complex man-machine systems (CMMS) and an important role of human factors in the system safety an described in this paper. The authors discuss the significance of human error factor identification (HEFI) from different respects, such as human reliability analysis, probabilistic safety assessment, human error reduction and prediction, and system reliability design and redesign. In addition, some of the disadvantages of existing HEFI and the basic criteria needed for a good HEFI technique are also proposed. The main feature of the paper is that it gives not only the definition of HEFI, but also a structured method and frame of HEFI: a multi-view method which consists of HEFI table and view factor trees.