A Case Based Human Reliability Assessment Using HFACS For Complex Space Operations.

Area of Science:

• Aviation Safety
• Human Factors Engineering
• Aerospace Operations

Background:

• Over 50% of aviation, aerospace, and aeronautics incidents stem from human error.
• Existing incident report systems often overlook theoretical human error frameworks, failing to address root causes.
• Collecting and classifying human error data, including causal factors, presents significant challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a literature overview and comparison of human error assessment methods.
• To demonstrate the application of a human error analysis tool in complex space operations.
• To identify research gaps in Human Reliability Assessment (HRA) for specific operational contexts.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of human error assessment methodologies.
• Comparative analysis of different assessment tools.
• Case example: Application of the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) in space operations.

Main Results:

• The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) is identified as a viable tool for categorizing human error in space operations.
• Existing Human Reliability Assessment (HRA) tools are limited for the unique complexities of space operations.
• A significant gap exists in HRAs specifically for Ground Processing Operations.

Conclusions:

• A robust human error assessment framework is crucial for identifying incident causes.
• HFACS offers a structured approach for analyzing human error in space operations.
• Further research is needed to develop and validate HRAs tailored to Ground Processing Operations.