Human Agency in Disaster Planning: A Systems Approach

Area of Science:

• Systems Engineering
• Risk Management
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Current risk management often overlooks dynamic system behavior and the crucial role of human agents (HAs).
• Human activity systems (HAS), especially safety-critical ones (CHASs), require integrated analysis of human and non-human elements.
• HAs are frequently treated as separate from the system in design and policy, hindering comprehensive risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the insufficient emphasis on human agents' roles and knowledge in risk management for critical human activity systems (CHASs).
• To develop and present a procedure for identifying threats and risks stemming from HA activities within CHASs.

Main Methods:

• Focus on human activity systems (HAS), specifically safety and mission-critical systems (CHASs).
• Developed a procedure to identify potential threats and risks arising from the roles and activities of human agents (HAs).
• Utilized the 2014 flooding in southwestern England and the Thames Valley as a case study for analysis.

Main Results:

• The study highlights the significance of HA contributions, decision-making, and knowledge in CHASs.
• The proposed procedure offers a method for a holistic risk assessment that integrates human elements.
• Analysis of the 2014 flooding case demonstrates the practical application of identifying HA-related risks.

Conclusions:

• A holistic approach is essential for analyzing risks in CHASs, integrating both human and non-human system components.
• The developed procedure provides a framework for better understanding and managing risks associated with human agents in critical systems.
• Effective risk management in CHASs necessitates acknowledging and analyzing the dynamic roles and knowledge of human agents.