70 books
—
5 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Human Error” as Want to Read:
Human Error
by
Modern technology has now reached a point where improved safety can only be achieved through a better understanding of human error mechanisms. In its treatment of major accidents, the book spans the disciplinary gulf between psychological theory and those concerned with maintaining the reliabiblity of hazardous technologies. Much of the theoretical structure is new and ori
...more
Get A Copy
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
October 26th 1990
by Cambridge University Press
(first published January 1st 1990)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Human Error,
please sign up.
Be the first to ask a question about Human Error
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Human Error
I read this book because working in a pharmacy, I hoped that having an understanding of the psychological basis of error might be helpful in avoiding it.
The book starts with some history. In the early twentieth century Freud was pondering on apparent slips and “accidents” having a basis in the subconscious. I suppose according to Freud, if someone made a slip in dispensing medication it would be because they had some deep seated dislike of a patient, or harboured unconscious opinions about their ...more
The book starts with some history. In the early twentieth century Freud was pondering on apparent slips and “accidents” having a basis in the subconscious. I suppose according to Freud, if someone made a slip in dispensing medication it would be because they had some deep seated dislike of a patient, or harboured unconscious opinions about their ...more
A difficult read but worth it to understand human error from the perspective of the cognitive psychologist. Reason is the author of the "Swiss Cheese Model" which holds that accidents are the result of the layering of latent failures on top of unsafe acts and local triggers. The book also details the difference between skill-based, rule-based, and knowledge-based error types and presents a theory of error forms which include frequency gambling and similarity matching. While there is little in th
...more
It's a surprisingly easy read for such a dry subject. I learned a lot about the way we form knowledge, skills and how we make mistakes. The last few chapters were very specific to nuclear and industrial applications, so only about 2/3 of the book were of any use to me. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject.
...more
Probably 3 1/2 stars. Some of this book was really interesting. I got a bit list in the sections having to do with genetics, but for the most part, the writer made the scientific understandable. I learned more about evolution and random selection as well as history of early man.
This one is not as easy to read as regular prose, it is a dry scientific text with details of experiments and models. It is a good reference if you're researching human errors.
...more
Fine book on errors and violations.
Distinguishing prior intention and intentional action (vs nonintentional or involuntary)
Cognitive Stage Primary Error Type
Planning Mistakes
Storage Lapses
Execution Slips
Activation
Specific activators - mental scratchpad
General activators - frequency of prior use
Boundary categories - Was there a prior intention to commit this particular violation?
If no, then erroneous or unintended violation
If yes, then sabotage
Routine violations - (a) natural tendency to take t ...more
Distinguishing prior intention and intentional action (vs nonintentional or involuntary)
Cognitive Stage Primary Error Type
Planning Mistakes
Storage Lapses
Execution Slips
Activation
Specific activators - mental scratchpad
General activators - frequency of prior use
Boundary categories - Was there a prior intention to commit this particular violation?
If no, then erroneous or unintended violation
If yes, then sabotage
Routine violations - (a) natural tendency to take t ...more
I'm very interested in exploring the origins of human errors. And this book by James Reason seemed liked a good read. I was about to travel and I didn't want to buy a paperback or a hardcover book--there are severe weight limitations for air travel. But I have a Kindle, and this book was available in the Kindle edition.
I should say that I tend not to write negative reviews. But in this case, I have to make an exception. Now my complaints are not with the content of the book. I wish it was writte ...more
I should say that I tend not to write negative reviews. But in this case, I have to make an exception. Now my complaints are not with the content of the book. I wish it was writte ...more
This is a difficult read-unless you're studying for your doctorate in sociology or psychology-which I am not. I picked this book up after reading another one of the author's book on accidents which was a far easier read. However, I did get the basics on types of human errors and a general overview of the analyses used in the field-which are inconclusive. Humans will always make errors. We have moved along since this book was first published 1990, in finding the root causes of accidents in nuclea
...more
Very detailed analysis of the human components of industrial accidents. The material has been around a while but it's still highly applicable to todays world of work. The modes of errors (GSM) theory has been picked up fairly recently and has become an important part of many progressive companies. Great book for practitioners focused on the human aspects of accident prevention.
...more
This book is probably one of the worst reads I have encountered. It is the basis of the most awkward workplace incident investigation and analysis methods I have ever used. After opening this book I understand why this analysis process is so cumbersome and ineffective. Visit the link for related information.
http://www.asasi.org/2004_PPTs/Young%... ...more
http://www.asasi.org/2004_PPTs/Young%... ...more
A must read for anyone interested in how to improve the performance of any system that involves humans
A solid review of the science underlying human error. More appropriate for those working on the science itself than practitioners looking to apply it.
Bof. Een inleiding, maar het leest verouderd.
Proposes small theories on how we make mistakes that cause accidents. The cause of accidents are far more simple than we might expect but not as simple as human error to be done with.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers also enjoyed
News & Interviews
Ciannon Smart has been holed up in her England home since the pandemic began a year ago, but by no means has she been idle. She’s been on...
23 likes · 6 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Error is intimately bound up with the notion of intention. The term ‘error’ can only be meaningfully applied to planned actions that fail to achieve their desired consequences without the intervention of some chance or unforeseeable agency. Two basic error types were identified: slips (and lapses), where the actions do not go according to plan, and mistakes, where the plan itself is inadequate to achieve its objectives.”
—
1 likes
More quotes…
