Human factors

‘Mainstreaming’ Human Factors Research

The initial seven year program of research at the Bushfire CRC included two projects that applied human factors knowledge.  These were; Safe Behaviour and Decision Making, led by Dr Mary Omodei and Enhancing IMT Effectiveness and Organisational Learning led by Dr Christine Owen.  These two projects used human factors knowledge to better understand operational decision making and performance in the fire and emergency management industry.

The research in these two projects is complete and has been published in scientific papers as well as in our more ‘friendly’ Fire Notes.  However, over the past couple of years agencies have consistently called on the researchers to make presentations and there is an emerging interest by end-user agencies in utilising this research and related knowledge in their business.  Of course all agencies have different needs, and are at different levels of readiness to deal with human factors.  In an effort to assist agencies to bridge the gap between theory and research and its application, the Bushfire CRC and AFAC are developing professional development workshops at both introductory and more specialised level.  In addition human factors principles are being incorporated into new national training materials, including the revision of AIIMS, wherever appropriate.

Follow the link to this poster for a quick overview: http://knowledgeweb.afac.com.au/conference/posters/afac/12866_AFAC_A1_Poster_FA_18.pdf

In mid September the CFA hosted a two day trial of the two Introductory Workshops.  The purpose was to test the level of interest and applicability of human factors knowledge and to gain feedback to refine the workshop design.  The evaluation of the workshops was overwhelmingly positive.  Indeed, people wanted to know more and many felt the workshops were too short!  The CFA has indicated a strong desire to conduct more professional development, and also to incorporate human factors more widely throughout various levels of its training programs.  The CFA is also committed to improving its operational performance processes through the inclusion of more ‘human-sensitive’ approaches, such as conducting field excursions to learn from wildfire or prescribed burn operations:

(http://www.bushfirecrc.com/resources/guide-or-fact-sheet/designing-staff-ride).

I am confident that within this agency there is now sufficient interest, broad support and also capacity to incorporate human factors knowledge into its business.  The Bushfire CRC research and its researchers and a willingness to engage with the agencies have played a small part in this journey.