Human Factors
Nov 25, 2023
Human factors is an evidence-based scientific discipline which aims to make it easy for workers “to do the right thing” Μand difficult, or ideally impossible, for workers to “do the wrong thing”. π¨β
We all know the tragic case of Elaine Bromiley, the 37yo wife and mother of two who died after a failed intubation. Elaine’s husband, Martin, is a pilot and human factors expert who has led a transformation in our understanding of human factors in the operating theatre. π«Ά
In the case of Elaine Bromiley, fixation error and authority gradients prevented the primary anaesthetist from working through the other available methods to provide life-saving oxygenation. π
In your workplace, everything from the design of the anaesthetic machine to the colour of the drug labels to the Surgical Safety Checklist is formed with our understanding of how humans perform in the real world. π
Here are some questions to ask at your workplace:
π Does your workplace safe-guard against worker fatigue?
π Does your team use a cognitive aid such as the Vortex Approach for airway management?
π Do you have an airway trolley that is aligned with that cognitive aid, containing simple and familiar equipment?
π Does your team use closed loop communication, and place importance on knowing each other’s names in the operating theatre?
Implementing human factors needs to occur at an organisational level to be effective. What is your hospital like?
Build knowledge β
Improve safety β
Ref: https://associationofanaesthetists-publications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/anae.15941
