Forensic Human Factors And Ergonomics

This book provides stories of injuries in regard to products and equipment where people have been injured, or killed, or property damaged. Although there are case studies written about various events that have resulted in harm to people or property, this book describes how human factors/ergonomics (HFE) analysis could have reduced the toll and the cost to people's lives and companies' bottom lines. The intent of this book is to give a broad range of situations to illustrate the kinds of areas where HFE considerations could improve product or environmental safety by using mitigation strategies to reduce the likelihood of occurrence and severity of adverse events.

This book has 18 case study chapters investigating various injury scenarios through the use of a Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) analysis. Each injury scenario derives from one or more similar lawsuits (but names, places and some of the details are fictionalized). The scenarios describe a ‘slice of life’ of people interacting with products, equipment, tasks, and environments before they are seriously hurt. The forensic analysis that follows each scenario gives a background of prior similar events and systematically examines potential causes leading to the injury event. There is emphasis on the person-machine interface, human error, hazard analysis, hazard control and a model of communication-human information processing (C-HIP). Chapters are authored by highly experienced expert witnesses in HFE. The methods used are general techniques that can be applied to other injury scenarios, but would be better if employed earlier in a product’s life cycle to prevent or limit injury. The first three chapters introduce concepts useful for the analyses in the case study chapters. The last chapter offers some broad take-away points that cut across several of the case studies. Features contributions by persons who have extensive experience in HFE and who have served professionally in the role of an expert witness in various legal cases mostly in product liability Gives a broad range of situations to illustrate where HFE considerations could improve product or environmental safety. There is an emphasis on children/caregivers, and adult activities such as driving Uses mitigation strategies to reduce the likelihood of occurrence and severity of adverse events Includes a first-person scenario at the beginning of each chapter Allows the lessons learned to be adaptable to other domains where people interact with products and environments

Using ergonomics in forensics can help prevent the recurrence of system failures through engineering or administrative controls. It can also raise the level of concern among professionals and the public regarding product, workplace, and service safety due to perceived exposure to liability. Even with such a potentially important and broad impact, f

Human factors engineering is a ground-breaking area too often ignored or misunderstood by lawyers. Often a designer's error encourages mistakes or misuse. Unfortunately, when trying these personal injury cases, legal professionals often pre-determine the “human factors” based on their own ability to use a product or operate in a particular environment. Since lawyers are human, they feel that they intuitively know about all human factors. The result? Many lawyers fail when trying personal injury cases, even though a thorough knowledge of human factors engineering could have meant a successful verdict. Principles of Forensic Human Factors/Ergonomics (revised edition of Human Factors Engineering for Forensic and Safety Specialists) is an excellent resource because it takes you step-by-step over the areas of concern. You'll get an in-depth look at the fields of architecture, transportation, consumer products, and furniture, areas in which questions of safety are most frequent. In addition, you'll discover how to separate the situation in which the product design is at fault from those situations where the injured is at fault due to carelessness or misconduct. Topics Include: • concept of design-induced human error or product misuse and personal safety • user/product interface and environmental influences • user limiting characteristics in product design • architectural systems • roadway, ground and air vehicular systems • consumer products and tools • home and work furnishings and equipment • graphics and product labeling • human factors/ergonomics tests

The role of forensic human factors/ergonomics practice in investigation and trial is taught in this book. Main liability areas and aspects of work practice are covered, and both plaintiff and defense case examples are used extensively throughout.

Written by two certified human factors/ergonomics professionals and a criminalist and firearms expert, all of whom have testified as expert witnesses, Human Factors in Handgun Safety and Forensics draws on their formidable collective knowledge and professional experience to present the first scientifically based volume in the field. This

This book presents the proceedings of the 20th Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA 2018), held on August 26-30, 2018, in Florence, Italy. By highlighting the latest theories and models, as well as cutting-edge technologies and applications, and by combining findings from a range of disciplines including engineering, design, robotics, healthcare, management, computer science, human biology and behavioral science, it provides researchers and practitioners alike with a comprehensive, timely guide on human factors and ergonomics. It also offers an excellent source of innovative ideas to stimulate future discussions and developments aimed at applying knowledge and techniques to optimize system performance, while at the same time promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of individuals. The proceedings include papers from researchers and practitioners, scientists and physicians, institutional leaders, managers and policy makers that contribute to constructing the Human Factors and Ergonomics approach across a variety of methodologies, domains and productive sectors. This volume includes papers addressing Organizational Design and Management.