Human factors is the multi-disciplinary science that applies
knowledge about the capabilities and limitations of human
performance to all aspects of the design, manufacture, operation,
and maintenance of products and systems.
After any accident or incident, a thorough operational and
technical investigation is essential to determine what happened
during the occurrence. However, very often, it is only by
investigating the possible role of human factors, at both the
individual and organisational level, that it can be determined how
and why the events occurred. Only then can appropriate safety
action be taken.
The ATSB is a leader in the application of human factors to
transport safety investigations, and has developed a highly
regarded Human Factors for Transport Safety Investigators course.
While the course is intended primarily for ATSB personnel, a
limited number of places are available to industry participants
from the aviation, marine and rail industries.
Course details
Human factors considers the effects of physical, psychological,
and environmental factors on human performance in different task
environments, including the role of human operators in complex
systems.
The ATSB Human Factors course is a five day full-time course that
covers the following topics relevant to safety in the aviation,
marine, and rail environments:
- Overview of human factors
- Human error
- Human information processing
- Perception
- Memory
- Attention
- Decision making
- Situation awareness
- Communication and crew resource management
- Human factors in maintenance
- Fatique
- Workload
- Stress
- Automation
- Ergonomics
- Human factors investigation issues
- Organisational influences
- Medical and environmental conditions
It is not the object of an ATSB investigation to determine blame
or liability, and the ATSB Human Factors course incorporates this
important philosophy throughout all aspects of the course.
Potential participants
Priority is given to potential participants who are employed in
federal, state, or international government transport safety
investigation agencies, airline safety departments, or rail and
marine safety organisations. We also encourage those who supervise
or manage the safety functions of their respective transport safety
organisations to apply.
The ATSB Human Factors course is not designed for those people who
have already completed a course in introductory human
factors.
Please note that the course assumes that participants have
appropriate operational experience in the aviation, marine or rail
domains.
Participants from outside Australia are most welcome, particularly
from the Asia-Pacific region. However, as the course is intensive
and fast-paced, it is essential that those attending the course
have a high level of proficiency in English. As a guide,
participants must meet ICAO English Language Proficiency Level 4 as
a minimum.
Some organisations, such as government transport safety
investigation agencies, major airlines and defence, regularly send
people to the ATSB Human Factors course. These organisations often
have a key contact person, generally in their central safety
department, who decides which personnel will attend the course from
their organisation.
The ATSB is primarily an operational organisation, and the
delivery of human factors training courses is dependent on human
factors investigator availability and workload. The ATSB usually
runs two courses a year. The high demand for the course often means
that the course is booked out well in advance.
The cost of the course is currently $2,000 plus 10% GST.
Course participants need to make their own accommodation and
travel arrangements. Reasonably priced accommodation is available
at the course venue in Canberra. Should you wish to stay elsewhere,
there are a number of nearby hotels, some of which we list in the
course information pack.
Further information
If you would like further information about the ATSB Human Factors
course, please contact the Course Convenor, Richard Batt
email: richard.batt@atsb.gov.au
with the following information:
- your current role in the aviation, marine, or rail
industry
- your industry experience
- your experience in safety-related matters
- any previous human factors training you have received
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US Federal Aviation Administration
To learn more about some basic human factors concepts, visit the US Federal Aviation Administration Human Factors Awareness Course website.
