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Ferrell's Human Factors in Accident Causation

Ferrell's human factors theory states that accidents are caused by a chain of multiple factors, often beginning with human error. Human error can arise from three situations: overload, incompatibility, or improper activities. Overload occurs when the demands of a task exceed a person's capacity due to issues like ambiguous goals, distraction, or fatigue. Incompatibility is a mismatch between a stimulus and response, such as inconsistent controls or displays. Improper activities involve not knowing how to perform a task safely or deliberately taking risks. The theory emphasizes that addressing overload and incompatibility can help reduce human errors and prevent accidents.

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3K views1 page

Ferrell's Human Factors in Accident Causation

Ferrell's human factors theory states that accidents are caused by a chain of multiple factors, often beginning with human error. Human error can arise from three situations: overload, incompatibility, or improper activities. Overload occurs when the demands of a task exceed a person's capacity due to issues like ambiguous goals, distraction, or fatigue. Incompatibility is a mismatch between a stimulus and response, such as inconsistent controls or displays. Improper activities involve not knowing how to perform a task safely or deliberately taking risks. The theory emphasizes that addressing overload and incompatibility can help reduce human errors and prevent accidents.

Uploaded by

Palani Kumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

FERRELL’S HUMAN FACTORS THEORY

Dr. Russell Ferrell, Professor of Human Factors


al the University of Arizona gave this theory of
accident causation as shown in diagram below:

This theory states that accidents are the result


of a casual chain (as in multiple causation
theory), one or more of the causes being
human error, which is in turn caused by three
situations - overload, incompatibility and
improper activities. Factors affecting these
three situations are as follows:

1. Overload (A mismatch of capacity, load and a state) due to-

Task (Physical, information processing)


Environment (Light, noise, distraction, stressors, that requires
Load active coping)
(a)
Internal (worry, emotional stress)
Situational (Ambiguity of goals or criteria, danger)
Natural endowment, physical condition, safe of mind, training,
(b) Capacity drugs, pollutants, pressure, fatigue, stressors that impair
ability to respond.
(c) State Motivational level and arousal level.

2. Incompatibility (incorrect response or mismatch) due to -

(a) Stimulus – Response Due to control – display


(b) Stimulus – Stimulus Due to inconsistent display types
(c) Response – Response Due to inconsistent control types or locations.
(d) Work station Size, force, reach, feel

3. Improper Activities due to

(a) The worker did not know how to do it.

(b) He deliberately took risk due to

— Low perceived probability of accident

— Low perceived cost of accident

Since this is basically human factor model, greater emphasis is placed on the first
two causes of human error, overload and incompatibility.

www.doshti.com HUMAN FACTORS THEORY

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