RIAC Human Factors Working Group

What are 'human factors'?

The Human Factors Working Group was responsible for developing a human factors strategy for RIAC. The strategy included an action plan for promoting the consistent use of human factors good practice in the railway industry.

RIAC agreed at its meeting on 24 May 2007 that the Human Factors Working Group should cease to meet regularly. The RIAC Secretariat has retained a network of experts who can be consulted on specific matters, and are encouraged to bring issues from their specialist fields to RIAC's attention.

The working group definition was: 'Human factors refer to environmental, organisational and job factors and human and individual characteristics which influence behaviour at work in a way which can affect health and safety'.

Human factors - Top issues

Human factors is a scientific discipline that applies systematic, evidence-based methods and knowledge about people to evaluate and improve the interaction between individuals, technology and organisations. The goal is to create a healthy, effective and safe operation.

Human factors professionals are concerned with an infinite number of factors that are grouped under these headings:

• the job – what people are asked to do (task/environment/equipment)
• the individual – who is doing it (competence/attitude/capability)
• organisation – how is the work organised (leadership/resources/culture)

The top issues page contains a list of the top human factors issues, further information on each issue and useful links to other human factors related web sites.