Description

Taxonomy based method to identify, classify, and qualitatively predict human errors, and to derive error reduction measures. The precursor of Tracer-Lite is Tracer, a more detailed and more resource intensive version of that technique.

Procedure

Tracer Lite has 2 components: retrospective and prospective component. The method offers taxonomies for each step.

Retrospective Study:
- Classify the Task Error
- Classify Internal Error (cognitive components)
- Classify Error Mechanism and topic of error
- Classify factors that influence performance (Performance Shaping Factors or PSF’s)

Predictive Study:
- Classify Performance Shaping Factors (PSF’s) (a task analysis is required)

 a task analysis
- Classify External Error
- Classify Internal Error
- Recovery

Advantages

• Moderate requirement for resources
• Possibility to derive Error Reduction Measures
   

Disadvantages

·       No direct quantification of predicted risk

References

Eurocontrol (2004). Review of Techniques to support the EATMP Safety Assessment Methodology, V(1), EEC Note No. 01/04.

Shorrock, S.T., Kirwan, B. and Smith E. (2003). Human error prediction in Air Traffic Management: A comparison of two approaches. IBC Conference on Preventing Human Errors and Violations. London, 27-28 February 2003.

Shorrock, S.T. (2002) Error classification for safety management: Finding the right approach. Proceedings of a Workshop on the Investigation and Reporting of Incidents and Accidents, 17th to 20th July 2002, The Senate Room, University of Glasgow.

Shorrock, S.T. (2002). The two-fold path to human error analysis: TRACEr lite retrospection and prediction. Safety Systems (Newsletter of the Safety-Critical Systems Club), 11 (3), September 2002.

Shorrock, S.T. and Kirwan, B. (2002). Development and application of a human error identification tool for air traffic control. Applied Ergonomics. 33 (4), 319-336.

Scaife, R., Smith, E. and Shorrock, S.T. (2001). The Practical Application of Error Analysis and Safety Modelling in Air Traffic Management. IBC Conference on Human Error, London, February 2001.

Access

To download a version of Tracer-Lite you may click here:

TRACER-LITE (MS Excel file)

To download a full version of Tracer you may click here:
TRACER (MS Excel file)

Contact

Steven Shorrock [s.shorrock@unsw.edu.au]

Links

http://www.tracer-lite.co.uk/