Taking account of human and organisational factors in planning and designing a high risk system

A Human and Organisational Factors (HOF) approach to project planning and design aims to improve decisions by anticipating the consequences of technical and organisational choices on the human activity that will take place in future operations. To foster efficient and safe work, the HOF approach is based on in-depth analysis of human activity in existing situations combined with simulation of probable activity in future operations, based on planned technical and organisational choices.

The approach requires project owners to express their requirements clearly, good coordination with design and engineering contractors, and participation of various stakeholders, in particular from operations. The integration of a HOF approach should start at Front End Engineering and continue until the final project review.