EG55Q5: HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING (2016-2017)

Human Factors Engineering (HFE) covers a range of issues relating to how people interact with complex engineering systems. These can be grouped into one of three main areas - Man-Equipment interfaces and interactions; Organisational Behaviours; and Personal Behaviour/Human Error. Failures in these three areas are involved in all major incidents and candidates will explore them as part of this course. First, a review of a number of major accidents will be undertaken to identify how the equipment design, individual behaviours, and organisational behaviours contributed. The role of equipment/system design and the effect it has on individuals' behaviours is then explored, including man-machine interfaces. Human Error is then addressed, including error types and the impact of environmental factors. This will be applied to Critical Task Analysis and Human Reliability Assessment. Finally, organisational behaviours will be examined. Leading and Lagging indicators are explored and their strengths and weaknesses considered. At each stage, students will have the opportunity to complete practical assessments led by industry practitioners with specialist expertise in HFE.

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

More Information about Week Numbers

1st Attempt: 3-hour written examination (80%); Continuous assessment (20%)

Resit: The re-sit will comprise of re-doing the failed element/s (exam and/or coursework assessment/s) from the 1st attempt with a maximum CGS mark of D3. The marks for other elements (successfully passed) will be carried over. Resit mark of either RP or RF will be recorded.

There are no assessments for this course.