Informative Annex Q is titled, “Human Performance and Workplace Electrical Safety.” It’s broken up into multiple parts (Q.1, Q.2, etc.).
Q.1 identifies six risk control methods in a hierarchical list (do number one first, then number two, and so on). Q.2 identifies five principles of human performance. Q.3. is about as long as Q.1 and Q.2 combined. Its title is “Information Processing and Attention.” It starts off by saying the brain processes information in a series of interactive stages, then goes on to enumerate those (1 through 4).
It briefly discusses Rasmussen’s model (used to classify human error) and explains the implications for individuals. It makes many good points.
Perhaps the crux of Q.3 is in its penultimate paragraph:
“Critical points in activities when risk is higher (increased likelihood of harm or increase severity of harm or both) require an increased allocation of attentional resources. Allocation at these critical points can be improved by training, procedures, equipment design, and teamwork.”
If you didn’t know this paragraph is in NFPA 70E, you might think it’s in a management book or perhaps a book on achieving higher performance in all the things you undertake to do.
Most safety problems are actually human performance problems. You solve those problems by addressing human performance. The ability to focus your attention on a critical task is partly a matter of choice, but it’s a choice influenced by the quality of training, procedures, equipment design, and teamwork. It’s also influenced by your team’s culture; if someone is distracted, get that person back on track.
