The Human Error Prevention Hierarchy

Can you really prevent human error? In this TapRooT® Podcast, we take a closer look at human error prevention strategies, human factors, safeguards, and how organizations can reduce the risk of serious incidents. The discussion explores the idea that human error is normal, but the systems surrounding people can be improved to make errors less likely and their consequences less severe. Alex breaks down a hierarchy of error prevention and mitigation strategies, including automation, physical impossibility, active interlocks, visual cues, procedures and training, containment, warnings, and independent verification. You'll also hear real-world examples involving lockout/tagout, bypassed safeguards, equipment failures, human performance, and significant injuries and fatalities (SIFs), and why simply telling people to "be more careful" is rarely an effective corrective action. Most importantly, the conversation explains a key principle behind effective human error prevention: make it easy to do the right thing and hard to do the wrong.