Understanding Human Factor: The Key to Workplace Safety Excellence

Most accidents don’t happen because someone wanted to take a risk. In most cases they happen because of a person's physical or emotional state. When someone is tired, rushing, distracted, or stressed.

That’s the human factor.

And it matters more than we think. Because people (not systems or machines) are behind almost every workplace decision. So, if we want fewer incidents, we need to look at what’s going on with people. And what's dealing with these physical and emotional states that can lead to people making mistakes.

YOUFactors is built for exactly that. It’s a digital tool that helps you and your team build safer habits- on and off the job.

What Is Human Factor?

The human factor is all about how people’s thoughts, actions, and reactions affect safety. It’s not just about training. It’s about understanding why people make mistakes; even when they know the rules.

So, what is human factor? In simple terms: it’s the way real people deal with real work. Sometimes we get tired. Sometimes we’re under pressure. Sometimes we're on auto-pilot mode. That’s human.

And it’s normal. But it’s also risky if we don’t manage it.

From an HSE point of view, human factors help us move beyond “tick-box” safety. They help us see the full picture; what’s really happening on the floor, in the field, or behind the wheel.

The Core Parts of Human Factor

There are a few things that shape how we act:

People

• Our skills, health, and how we’re feeling that day.

The Job

• How hard or complicated it is.

The Environment

• Heat, noise, space, lighting - these matter.

The Organisation

• Culture, leadership, systems, and support.

If any of these aren’t right, mistakes can happen. Fast.

The 5 Key Human Factors That Affect Safety

We could categorize human factorsthat affect safety into 5 sections. 

Physical Factors

• Body strain
• Tired muscles
• Poor eyesight or hearing
• Awkward positions or bad ergonomics

Cognitive Factors

• Struggling to focus
• Forgetting steps
• Multitasking too much

Psychological Factors

• Feeling stressed
• Low motivation
• Misjudging risk

Social Factors

• Teamwork (or lack of it)
• Poor communication
• Leadership style

Organisational Factors

• Safety rules and whether they’re followed
• Training that actually works
• A culture that encourages speaking up

Human Error Examples: What It Looks Like on the Job

Human error isn’t always dramatic. Often, it’s simple things:

Skill-Based Errors

These happen during tasks that are familiar, practiced, and done often. Basically, tasks you've done so many times they feel automatic. The brain goes on “autopilot.” Mistakes here usually involve slips or lapses.

• Reaching for something and accidentally knocking something else over.
• Picking up the wrong tool or item, even though you know the right one.
• Doing something else while working on a task (like quickly checking your phone)

Why it happens: You’re on autopilot. The task is so familiar, your brain stops actively thinking about it. If your mind drifts for even a second, you can make a small mistake with big consequences.

Rule-Based Errors

These happen when we follow a rule, but use the wrong one, or apply it in the wrong situation. We think we’re doing the right thing, but we’ve misunderstood what’s needed.

• Following an old procedure that no longer applies.
• Using a shortcut that works in one case but causes a problem in another.
• Skipping a step because you thought it wasn’t needed this time.

Why it happens: You know the rules. But either they aren’t clear, they don’t fit the situation, or you pick the wrong one based on habit or assumption. This kind of mistake feels logical; until something goes wrong.

Knowledge-Based Errors

These happen in new situations. Ones you don’t have a clear rule or experience for. You have to figure things out as you go. That’s when thinking errors, wrong assumptions, or gaps in understanding can lead to mistakes.

• Facing something new and guessing what to do
• Not knowing there’s a better (safer) way

Why it happens: You’re in unfamiliar territory. You don’t have a solid mental model to guide you. So, you rely on guesswork, incomplete info, or past experiences that don’t quite fit the moment.

Human Factors Across Industries

Every job has its own challenges, but human factors show up everywhere:

Aviation was the first to take human error seriously. It changed everything.

The aviation industry pioneered human factors integration in the 1970s after crash investigations revealed that most accidents weren’t caused by mechanical failure, but by pilot error and poor communication. This led to the creation of Crew Resource Management (CRM), now a global standard in pilot training.

Healthcare and the NHS now train staff on human factors to reduce medical mistakes.

The NHS actively incorporates human factors into clinical training to improve patient safety. Human factors help address issues like miscommunication, fatigue, and decision-making under stress, especially in surgery and emergency care.

Construction, oil, and manufacturing rely on strong habits and good teamwork to avoid major incidents.

High-risk industries like construction and oil & gas use human factors to improve safety by focusing on routine behaviours, communication, fatigue management, and situational awareness. These elements help prevent errors in fast-paced or hazardous environments.

These industries have set the standard for human factors, but the concept shouldn't stop there. Human factors affect every industry, every workplace and even life at home. In fact, over 56% of accidents happen at home, not at work. That’s why building awareness and good habits matters everywhere people are.

YOUFactors: The App That Helps You Build Better Habits

At YOUFactors, we help teams work safer by changing small habits. Our app is like a safety coach in your pocket. It gives your team tools that help them stay sharp and avoid mistakes.

What You’ll Get:

• Short learning modules that fit into busy days
• Weekly nudges to stay focused
• “Rate Your State” tools to spot risks before they become accidents
• Close-call analysis to learn from near misses
• Team sharing to build a safety culture together

It’s about being one step ahead. Because the best safety plans start with people, not paperwork.

👉 Try YOUFactors today. See how it fits your team. Request a demo →

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