Human Factors

Procedure Design and Management

Procedure design includes the documents that accompany work set expectations, detail steps and support people to complete tasks. Non-compliance can often be a symptom with deeper causes, including inadequate procedures and instructions. 

Human Factors

Procedure Design and Management

Procedure design includes the documents that accompany work set expectations, detail steps and support people to complete tasks. Non-compliance can often be a symptom with deeper causes, including inadequate procedures and instructions. 

Procedures and Instructions

To properly support staff and users the purpose, form and content of accompanying documentation needs to be considered and aligned.

Different organisations use the term ‘procedure’ in different ways, e.g. Is it a full step-by-step procedure to be used while doing the task? Is it a comprehensive procedure more used for reference and training? Is it more of a job aid or checklist which is light on detail to be used on the job? These will impact its form and content.  

Additionally, there are many considerations that could make or break a good procedure. Are the instructions clearly set out with a good font size, formatting and does it use pictures and colour appropriately? Has the content been developed with frontline staff and other stakeholders to arrive at a consensus about best practices? Is the procedure organised into manageable sections and subsections? Does it communicate where risks are?

A good task analysis can really help unlock the content of a procedure. 

Procedures and Instructions

To properly support staff and users the purpose, form and content of accompanying documentation needs to be considered and aligned.

Different organisations use the term ‘procedure’ in different ways, e.g. Is it a full step-by-step procedure to be used while doing the task? Is it a comprehensive procedure more used for reference and training? Is it more of a job aid or checklist which is light on detail to be used on the job? These will impact its form and content.  

Additionally, there are many considerations that could make or break a good procedure. Are the instructions clearly set out with a good font size, formatting and does it use pictures and colour appropriately? Has the content been developed with frontline staff and other stakeholders to arrive at a consensus about best practices? Is the procedure organised into manageable sections and subsections? Does it communicate where risks are?

A good task analysis can really help unlock the content of a procedure. 

Software for Procedure Review and Writing

The SHERPA Software can greatly help here at all stages of procedure review and writing: it can import procedures, it has an intuitive graphical interface for reviewing the task, it can highlight where the main risks are, and it can output formatted procedures including warnings, comments, and pictures with the touch of a button. 

SHERPA can also be used as the basis for digital procedures to track where different people are in the task, recording their actions. 

SHERPA SOP output can be tailored to your company template, branding and logo. Take the heavy work out of procedure review and writing, let SHERPA save you time, trouble and effort.

Software for Procedure Review and Writing

The SHERPA Software can greatly help here at all stages of procedure review and writing: it can import procedures, it has an intuitive graphical interface for reviewing the task, it can highlight where the main risks are, and it can output formatted procedures including warnings, comments, and pictures with the touch of a button. 

SHERPA can also be used as the basis for digital procedures to track where different people are in the task, recording their actions. 

SHERPA SOP output can be tailored to your company template, branding and logo. Take the heavy work out of procedure review and writing, let SHERPA save you time, trouble and effort.

Different areas of topic

Procedures and instructions are ubiquitous for important tasks. They don’t just provide information to frontline staff and users, but they form an important part of the performance and risk management. 

Managing Human Factors

Managing human performance includes how we learn from events, deviations, normal work and manage risks. It is a key area for ensuring good and safe operations in the workplace.

COMAH

The Human Factors COMAH Delivery Guide was developed by the HSE following a need to establish a framework for inspecting Human Factors (HF) at COMAH establishments. Scroll down for an overview and summary.

Hierarchical Task Analysis

Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) is a method for analysing tasks using a hierarchical structure. 

Managing Human Performance

Managing human performance includes how we learn from events, deviations, normal work and manage risks. It is a key area for ensuring good and safe operations in the workplace.

SCTA

Safety Critical Task Analysis (SCTA) is a proactive approach to identifying and managing Human Factors risks. It is required by sites that fall under the COMAH regulations in the UK.

SOP

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are a key part of managing the quality and safety of critical tasks. For the operators, they should provide information for conducting the task successfully.

T4 Procedures​

The documents that accompany work set expectations, detail steps and support people to complete tasks. Non-compliance can often be a symptom with deeper causes.

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