Human Factors Effecting Forensic Decision Making: Workplace Stress and Well-being

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Occupational Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Human factors in forensic science are increasingly recognized.
• Focus has predominantly been on cognitive bias, neglecting workplace wellness and stress.
• Forensic scientists experience unique industry-specific pressures beyond common workplace demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the impact of workplace stress on forensic scientists.
• To emphasize the need to address wellness and stress as critical human factors.
• To explore potential mitigation techniques for stress in forensic work.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on human factors in forensic science.
• Analysis of common and industry-specific stressors for forensic professionals.
• Discussion of stress mitigation strategies, including mindfulness.

Main Results:

• Forensic scientists face numerous stressors including workload, deadlines, low pay, and adversarial legal system demands.
• These stressors negatively affect error management, productivity, and decision quality.
• Mindfulness is identified as a potential tool for enhancing work and decision quality.

Conclusions:

• Workplace stress is a critical human factor in forensic science that requires attention.
• Mitigating stress is essential for improving forensic work quality and examiner well-being.
• Mindfulness techniques offer a promising approach to enhance performance and reduce stress in forensic settings.