Deck 11: Human Error

Question 1

Human error is

A) An action that violates some tolerance limits of a system which has little or no effect on the system or people.
B) An action that violates some tolerance limits of a system which has the potential to affect the system or people.
C) An action that violates the people of the system.
D) An undesirable effect.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

"Human error"

A) Can actually be a fault of the system design.
B) Is intentional.
C) Refers to problems with Norman's "in the world" knowledge.
D) Suggests that humans are the faulty part of systems and need extensive training.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

When individuals perform outside of acceptable bounds of behavior for a particular system, this is known as

A) Human error.
B) Intentional error.
C) Mechanical error.
D) System error.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

When individuals fail to act or unintentionally perform the incorrect function, this is

A) Human error.
B) Intentional error.
C) Mechanical error.
D) System error.

Question 5

You purposely push the button on the right thinking it will switch the channel to the station you want, but you turn off the radio instead. This is a(n)

A) Intentional error.
B) Purposeful error.
C) Omission error.
D) Unintentional error.

Question 6

You turn the right dial to turn on the right front burner on the stove, but you soon realize that you turned on the back burner instead of the front burner. This is a(n)

A) Intentional error.
B) Purposeful error.
C) Omission error.
D) Unintentional error.

Question 7

An example of an error of commission is performing

A) Extra functions out of sequence and not responding at the appropriate time.
B) Extra functions out of sequence or being timely.
C) Functions in order or being timely.
D) Only the necessary functions in proper order and being timely.

Question 8

If you perform an action out of sequence, this is a(n)

A) Commission error.
B) Omission error.
C) Unintentional error.
D) Uncovered error.

Question 9

Failing to perform an action correctly is a(n) _____________ whereas failing to perform an action is a(n) ____________.

A) Attentional check failure; GEMS error.
B) Mistake; intentional error.
C) Omission; commission.
D) Slip; lapse.

Question 10

Driving home from work, Sarah absent-mindedly turned at the wrong intersection. She realized immediately that it was the wrong intersection. This is an example of a

A) Knowledge-based error
B) Mistake
C) Rule-based error.
D) Skill-based error

Question 11

Ralph made a wrong turn. Normally, he would turn around and go back to where he made the wrong turn. Turning around was not an option due construction and traffic, which caused Ralph to get lost. This is an example of

A) Knowledge-based error
B) Mistake
C) Rule-based error.
D) Skill-based error

Question 12

According to the Generic Error-Modeling System, after realizing he processed an order incorrectly Jim would

A) Apply "in the world" knowledge.
B) Move into rule-based processing.
C) Start with knowledge-based process.
D) Use skill-based solutions.

Question 13

The extent to which individuals are error free defines

A) Human error limits.
B) Human performance shaping factors.
C) Human reliability.
D) Human reliability analysis.

Question 14

Human reliability

A) Indicates that humans will not make mistakes.
B) Is not possible to determine.
C) Is the extent to which individuals will not make errors.
D) Must be assess using machines, which are reliable.

Question 15

To complete a human reliability analysis, we will start with an incident and then work backwards to determine the events leading up to this error. This is called a(n)

A) Dynamic faulty management system.
B) Event tree.
C) Fault tree.
D) Performance shaping factor analysis.

Question 16

Near misses are

A) Accidents.
B) Errors that do not cause accidents.
C) Errors that lead to mistakes.
D) The same as an accident.

Question 17

When slicing potatoes for dinner, the knife slips and cuts the potato at an odd angle, just missing your thumb. This is a(n)

A) Error and accident.
B) Minor error.
C) Near miss.
D) Near miss and accident.

Question 18

During a day of bottling at the winery, someone misplaced some equipment, which lead to a great deal of the wine spilling on the floor. To prevent this from happening in the future, it is important

A) For the worker to determine what went wrong and fix it.
B) That the worker is not penalized for reporting the incident.
C) To Report the error even though the worker might be suspended and have to pay for the lost wine.
D) To share the information with trusted co-workers in order to determine a team solution to the problem.

Question 19

Expertise level, sleep deprivation, and stress are all examples of

A) Cultural factors that impact error severity.
B) Individual factors that can contribute to errors.
C) Organizational structure related to error.
D) Systems factors that cause errors.

Question 20

When human error occurs, to determine the cause it is important to consider

A) Individual, organizational, and external factors.
B) Specific behaviors just before the error occurred.
C) The organizational structure and how management has established policies.
D) The training and experiences of the individuals.

Question 21

When individuals do not follow the safety rules and do not get hurt this is

A) Bad because it reinforces unsafe behavior.
B) Bad because one could lose one's job for not following the rules.
C) Okay as long as management did not notice.
D) Okay because nothing bad happened.

Question 22

You have three projects, two tests, and a paper due at the end of the week.

A) Stress is high.
B) The stressors should be determined to reduce the stress.
C) You have six stressors to deal with.
D) You will be stressed.

Question 23

You and your friend have three projects, two tests, and a paper due at the end of the week.

A) Both of you have to deal with environmental stressors.
B) Both of you will be stressed.
C) Your stress levels will vary depending on how you handle these events.
D) You will be stressed because you have more stressors than your friend.

Question 24

One's best performance is often related to an "optimal level" of stress. This optimal level

A) Decreases as one learns more tasks because the tasks become more complex.
B) Is influenced by one's level of training.
C) Occurs when a person has five or six events to juggle at the same time.
D) Occurs when one's resources are nearly exhausted.

Question 25

Perceptions of risk for the general public often differ from those who study human error and accidents. For example, "DANGER" means

A) One will experience a hazard or risk.
B) There is a hazard, but no risk.
C) There is certainty severe injury or death will occur.
D) There is the potential for injury or death.

Question 26

Compliance with warnings is influenced by

A) Familiarity with the situation.
B) Level of training.
C) The color of the warning.
D) The type of equipment.

Question 27

Individuals often don't follow warnings because

A) The warning was short.
B) The warning was highlighted at the beginning and end of the instructions.
C) There were not enough warnings.
D) They do not believe anything could happen to them.

Question 28

You are walking through a restaurant, where some ceilings are low and various steps are hard to see. You have the possibility of tripping on the steps or hitting your head on the ceiling. A warning sign should be posted. Which warning word would be most appropriate?

A) BEWARE
B) CAUTION
C) DANGER
D) WARNING

Question 29

Warnings are displays that need to be

A) Noticed, understood, and implementable.
B) Seen, colorful, and understood.
C) Implementable, applicable, and timely.
D) Clear in describing the accident and animated.

Question 30

A warning indicates that there is high voltage. This information is the

A) Consequence.
B) Hazard.
C) Instructions.
D) Signal word.

Question 31

The use of procedural check lists, training, and feedback are means to

A) Decrease excessive break time.
B) Enrich the job.
C) Evaluate human error.
D) Reduce accidents and injury.

Question 32

To reduce errors, the first and most important task is to

A) Apply human factors knowledge to the proper design of equipment, tools, and environments.
B) Create good, effective warnings.
C) Develop good signage about who should use the equipment or tool.
D) Ensure individuals are working at the optimal point in the Yerkes-Dodson law.

Question 33

Human factors can assist with the reduction of errors by

A) Applying human factors design knowledge to design out errors.
B) Creating warnings of various colors to catch individuals' attention.
C) Determining the optimal level of training someone needs to use the tool.
D) Increase individuals' familiarity with the tool or situation.

Question 34

The agency that enforces safety laws is the

A) Forensic Human Factors Safety and Health Organization.
B) Human Factors Technical Advisory Group for Safety and Health.
C) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
D) Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Question 35

Explain how errors can be related to Norman's "in the head" vs "in the world" knowledge.

Question 36

Accidents might be more likely for people driving manual (as opposed to automatic) cars. Explain.

Question 37

Explain how can human factors help reduce accidents.

Question 38

Identify and describe three (3) personal factors that influence accidents.

Question 39

Describe what an error of omission is.

Question 40

Compare and contrast slips, lapse, and mistakes with skill-based, rule-based, and knowledge-based errors.

Question 41

Describe what an error of commission is.

Question 42

Describe how GEMS explains the different types of processing individuals use.

Question 43

Describe what the four main components of a warning are.

Question 44

You have been hired by your university to work in the environmental safety department for the summer because of your human factors knowledge. Your knowledge should be extremely useful in remodeling, renovating, and designing new spaces on campus. A couple of the projects you will evaluate will be the parking lots and the food service working environments. First, discuss how you would design the parking lots to increase safety and to reduce accidents. Next, describe three (3) potential accidents that food service personnel could experience. Finally, discuss how you could reduce or eliminate these accidents. That is, how could you reduce human error?

Question 45

As a member of the highway transportation board, your job is to design highway systems which are safe and efficient. This requires that you are aware of many factors such as the driving population, weather, and vehicle design. For each of the factors listed (driving population, weather, vehicle design), identify two (2) variables which could cause errors and discuss how you could "design out" these errors. Finally, discuss how you could use warning to reduce errors in certain situations.

Question 46

Your zoo has hired you as a consultant to make this zoo the best. (Okay, the second best. We all know the San Diego Zoo is the BEST!) In order to be one of the best, it is necessary that the zoo is accessible and safe for all. Some individuals have tripped on uneven sidewalks, others have been bitten by some animals. Describe how this is human error and what type of error it is. Be sure to justify your answers! Then, discuss how you could reduce errors through redesign and the use of warnings.