When we search for causes of accidents, we often assume a binary: either mechanical failure, or human error, were to blame, and we must pick between them. But labelling an accident as caused by human error doesn’t teach us anything. It makes no effort to understand what caused people to make the decisions they did....
The post <a href="https://engineeringmatters.reby.media/2025/02/20/317-human-factors-human-error-and-safety-by-design/">#317 Human Factors, Human Error, and Safety by Design</a> first appeared on <a href="https://engineeringmatters.reby.media">Engineering Matters</a>.

When we search for causes of accidents, we often assume a binary: either mechanical failure, or human error, were to blame, and we must pick between them. But labelling an accident as caused by human error doesn’t teach us anything. It makes no effort to understand what caused people to make the decisions they did.... The post #317 Human Factors, Human Error, and Safety by Design first appeared on Engineering Matters.

When we search for causes of accidents, we often assume a binary: either mechanical failure, or human error, were to blame, and we must pick between them. But labelling an accident as caused by human error doesn’t teach us anything. It makes no effort to understand what caused people to make the decisions they did....
The post <a href="https://engineeringmatters.reby.media/2025/02/20/317-human-factors-human-error-and-safety-by-design/" rel="noopener noreferrer">#317 Human Factors, Human Error, and Safety by Design</a> first appeared on <a href="https://engineeringmatters.reby.media" rel="noopener noreferrer">Engineering Matters</a>.

#317 Human Factors, Human Error, and Safety by Design

Five times winner of the Publisher Podcast Awards, including Best Technology Podcast, Engineering Matters celebrates the work of engineers who use ingenuity, practicality, science, theory and determination to build a better world. In the UK alone 5.7million people work in engineering related enterprises from manufacturing and agriculture to construction and transportation. Their work ensures that the country has sustainable power supplies, better connectivity between cities, increasing efficiency in production processes; advanced manufacturing methods; and is embracing the digital transformations that include virtual modelling of our environment, and development of intelligent machines.    Our episodes will examine the vital work of engineers using a mix of interviews, analysis and site visits.

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Five times winner of the Publisher Podcast Awards, including Best Technology Podcast, Engineering Matters celebrates the work of engineers who use ingenuity, practicality, science, theory and determination to build a better world. In the UK alone 5.7million people work in engineering related enterprises from manufacturing and agriculture to construction and transportation. Their work ensures that the country has sustainable power supplies, better connectivity between cities, increasing efficiency in production processes; advanced manufacturing methods; and is embracing the digital transformations that include virtual modelling of our environment, and development of intelligent machines. Our episodes will examine the vital work of engineers using a mix of interviews, analysis and site visits.

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#317 Human Factors, Human Error, and Safety by Design

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