Meeting PABIAC’s Human Factors Objectives (Part 3): Getting Started with SCTA

This is the final instalment in our trilogy of blogs on meeting PABIAC’s Human Factors Objectives – Getting Started with SCTA.

Dr. Dominic Furniss

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Beginner, HUMAN FACTORS, Paper Industry, SCTA

In our previous blogs, we introduced PABIAC’s human factors requirements (Part 1) and outlined a systematic approach to human factors risk management (Part 2). Now, let’s focus on practical implementation – how to get started with Safety Critical Task Analysis (SCTA) and build the capabilities needed to meet PABIAC’s strategic objectives.

The Journey to Human Factors Integration

Implementing human factors is a journey, not a one-time project. As an industry relatively new to formal human factors integration, paper and board facilities have the advantage of learning from sectors that have already travelled this path. With over 40 years of experience helping organisations across industries implement human factors approaches, we’ve seen what works – and what doesn’t.

The good news? You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. SCTA has become the industry standard for a detailed and systematic human reliability assessment of critical tasks. While it may be known by different names (Human Factors Critical Task Review, Human Reliability Assessment, or SHERPA), the core methodology remains consistent.

What is Safety Critical Task Analysis?

SCTA is a structured approach to understanding and improving human performance in critical tasks. It has been widely adopted in high-hazard industries, particularly in COMAH-regulated sectors, and aligns perfectly with PABIAC’s strategic objectives.

At its core, SCTA has three essential elements:

A systematic task analysis
A systematic failure analysis
A performance influencing factors analysis

The process is primarily qualitative, focusing on understanding real-world task performance rather than generating statistical probabilities. This practical approach delivers insights that directly translate to meaningful improvements.

Building Your SCTA Capability

To meet PABIAC’s strategic objectives, paper and board facilities need to develop capabilities at several levels:

1. Awareness Level

Every manager, supervisor, and engineer involved in safety critical operations should ideally understand human factors principles and how they apply to daily operations. This foundational knowledge enables better decision-making across the organisation.

2. Application Level

Those responsible for implementing PABIAC’s requirements need deeper knowledge – how to identify critical tasks, conduct basic analyses, and implement improvements. This typically includes safety professionals, process engineers, and operations leaders.

3. Specialist Level

Organisations need access to human factors expertise, whether internal or external, to guide program development, tackle complex analyses, and ensure methodological rigor.

Our experience shows that most organisations benefit from developing internal capabilities at the awareness and application levels while partnering with specialists for methodology development and complex analyses.

Getting Started: Practical Steps

Here’s how to begin implementing SCTA to meet PABIAC’s objectives:

Step 1: Address Knowledge Gaps (PABIAC Objective 1.1)

“By 31 December 2024 all sites will have identified any gaps in people’s knowledge, experience or understanding in the principles of humans and risk, and how they can integrate human factors into hazard identification and accident investigation.”

Start by assessing current awareness and understanding. Consider:

Do key personnel understand human factors principles?
Is there awareness of how human factors integrates with existing safety management?
Are incident investigations considering human factors properly?

Training options range from introductory awareness sessions to more comprehensive courses. Our Introduction to Human Factors for Process Safety, Loss Prevention and COMAH course is accredited by the CIEHF and designed specifically for industrial settings, providing team leaders, managers, and engineers with practical understanding of human factors principles.

Step 2: Develop Internal Capability (PABIAC Objective 1.2)

“Where appropriate, all sites should identify a competent person (internally or externally) or a recognised organisation who can provide the knowledge, tools, and skills necessary to deliver training to enable others to undertake safety critical tasks analysis.”

This requires deeper expertise than basic awareness. Options include:

Identifying and developing internal champions
Engaging external specialists to build capability
Creating a hybrid model with internal leads supported by external expertise

For those looking to develop more advanced capabilities, our SCTA Course is accredited by the CIEHF and designed to enable practitioners to undertake safety critical task analysis themselves. This intensive training builds the practical skills needed to lead SCTA activities or serve as an “intelligent customer” when working with specialists.

Step 3: Identify and Analyse Critical Tasks (PABIAC Objective 1.3)

“By 31 July 2025 all sites will have identified all safety critical tasks, starting with those tasks where people potentially approach dangerous parts. Once complete all sites should then compile an action plan prioritising areas for improvement.”

This is where the rubber meets the road – implementing the systematic approach we outlined in our previous blog. Key activities include:

Developing a critical task register
Prioritising tasks for detailed analysis
Conducting task analyses and identifying potential failures
Assessing performance influencing factors
Implementing improvements

For many organisations, this is where external support proves most valuable – providing methodological rigor, facilitating workshops, and ensuring quality analyses. Our specialised Human Factors and SCTA consultancy services help sites:

Respond to regulatory expectations
Build internal capability
Conduct gap analyses and develop tailored policies
Facilitate critical task identification workshops
Perform SCTA studies with human factors experts

Step 4: Address Design Issues (PABIAC Objective 1.4)

“Building on the previous strategy for all sites to adopt the PABIAC procurement policy and as part of the critical task analysis review, all sites will review the policy and update where applicable any machine and plant design issues identified through Objectives 1 and 2, to ensure these are engineered out at the procurement stage.”

This objective recognises that many human factors issues stem from equipment and process design. The SCTA process helps identify these latent conditions that create error-producing situations. Addressing them requires:

Updating procurement policies to include human factors considerations
Building human factors into design reviews
Ensuring modifications address identified issues
Verifying improvements through follow-up assessments

Why Partner with Human Reliability Associates

Since 1982, Human Reliability Associates has been at the forefront of human factors application in high-hazard industries. As one of the longest-serving human factors consultancies in the world, we’ve helped organisations across sectors—from oil and gas to pharmaceuticals, chemical processing to power generation—implement effective human factors programs.

Our approach to supporting paper and board facilities is built on:

Practical Experience

Our team doesn’t just understand theory – we’ve applied human factors in industrial settings for over four decades. We know what works in practice and how to integrate human factors into existing systems without disruption.

Specialised Knowledge

We’ve developed methodologies specifically for industrial human factors applications, with particular expertise in SCTA. Our consultants have contributed to industrial guidance documents on SCTA. Our training is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF), ensuring it meets the highest professional standards.

Tailored Support

We recognise that every facility has unique needs and constraints. Whether you need comprehensive program development or targeted support for specific PABIAC objectives, we customise our approach to your situation.

Knowledge Transfer

Our goal isn’t just to solve today’s problems but to build your organisation’s capability. We focus on skills transfer, ensuring your team develops the knowledge to sustain human factors integration long-term.

Resources to Get You Started

We’re committed to helping the paper and board industry successfully implement PABIAC’s human factors objectives. Here are resources to support your journey:

Free Resources:

Our FREE 30-minute introduction to Human Factors Critical Task Review provides a quick overview of the methodology.
Download our SCTA Introductory Handbook for a practical guide to the process.
Visit our dedicated SCTA page for additional resources and insights.

Industry Guides:

The Energy Institute’s Guidance on Human Factors Safety Critical Task Analysis provides a formal methodology overview.
The CIEHF guide How to carry out human factors assessments of critical tasks: Guidance for COMAH establishments offers practical implementation advice.

Training Options:

Our Introduction to Human Factors for Process Safety, Loss Prevention and COMAH course provides awareness-level training for managers and engineers.
For those who want to lead SCTA activities, our flagship SCTA Course builds practical skills through hands-on application.

Consultancy Services:

Our Human Factors consultancy services range from gap analysis to policy development, critical task identification workshops, and full SCTA studies.

Conclusion: Your Human Factors Journey

Meeting PABIAC’s human factors objectives represents a significant opportunity for the paper and board industry – not just to enhance safety but to improve operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and engage employees in meaningful improvement.

While the journey may seem daunting, you don’t have to travel it alone. With the right approach and support, your organisation can successfully integrate human factors, meeting both regulatory expectations and business objectives.

For over 40 years, Human Reliability Associates has helped organisations apply human factors principles to improve safety and performance. As you embark on your PABIAC implementation journey, we’re ready to be your trusted partner – providing the expertise, tools, and support you need to succeed.

Want the complete guide now?

If you’d like to dive deeper immediately, download our comprehensive PABIAC Human Factors guide. This detailed resource covers everything from identifying critical tasks to implementing effective controls, with real-world examples from the paper and board industry.