Applying analytic hierarchy process and failure likelihood index method (AHP-FLIM) to assess human reliability in critical and sensitive jobs of a petrochemical industry.

Background: Given that human error is the most important cause of industrial accidents, it seems necessary to identify and analyze human error, assess human reliability, and reduce errors or prevent unfortunate consequences. This study aimed to evaluate human reliability in a petrochemical industry. Methods: Critical and sensitive jobs were identified by interviewing the staff and supervisors of the industry. Then, the most important human errors and Performance Shaping Factors (PSFs) in each job group were identified. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), PSFs and human errors were weighed and prioritized. Next, the Failure Likelihood Index (FLI) was calculated for each of the human errors identified in the selected tasks. Finally, by converting this index to human error, human reliability was calculated. Results: Firefighters, site men, and mechanical repairmen had the highest risk and were selected to evaluate human reliability by the AHP-FLI method. Accordingly, six PSFs (training, experience, instruction, stress, task complexity, and environmental conditions) were identified as the most important factors in human error occurrence. The average human error probability was calculated as 0.019, 0.018, and 0.013 in the three job groups of firefighters, site men, and mechanical repairmen, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that the AHP-FLI method could be a suitable method for assessing human reliability in the petrochemical industry since it could measure the impact of different PSFs on the probability of human error.

The Impact of Job Stress and Job Satisfaction on Workforce Productivity in an Iranian Petrochemical Industry.

BACKGROUND: Job stress and job satisfaction are important factors affecting workforce productivity. This study was carried out to investigate the job stress, job satisfaction, and workforce productivity levels, to examine the effects of job stress and job satisfaction on workforce productivity, and to identify factors associated with productivity decrement among employees of an Iranian petrochemical industry. METHODS: In this study, 125 randomly selected employees of an Iranian petrochemical company participated. The data were collected using the demographic questionnaire, Osipow occupational stress questionnaire to investigate the level of job stress, Job Descriptive Index to examine job satisfaction, and Hersey and Goldsmith questionnaire to investigate productivity in the study population. RESULTS: The levels of employees' perceived job stress and job satisfaction were moderate-high and moderate, respectively. Also, their productivity was evaluated as moderate. Although the relationship between job stress and productivity indices was not statistically significant, the positive correlation between job satisfaction and productivity indices was statistically significant. The regression modeling demonstrated that productivity was significantly associated with shift schedule, the second and the third dimensions of job stress (role insufficiency and role ambiguity), and the second dimension of job satisfaction (supervision). CONCLUSION: Corrective measures are necessary to improve the shift work system. "Role insufficiency" and "role ambiguity" should be improved and supervisor support must be increased to reduce job stress and increase job satisfaction and productivity.

Human Error Analysis in a Permit to Work System: A Case Study in a Chemical Plant.

BACKGROUND: A permit to work (PTW) is a formal written system to control certain types of work which are identified as potentially hazardous. However, human error in PTW processes can lead to an accident. METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted to estimate the probability of human errors in PTW processes in a chemical plant in Iran. In the first stage, through interviewing the personnel and studying the procedure in the plant, the PTW process was analyzed using the hierarchical task analysis technique. In doing so, PTW was considered as a goal and detailed tasks to achieve the goal were analyzed. In the next step, the standardized plant analysis risk-human (SPAR-H) reliability analysis method was applied for estimation of human error probability. RESULTS: The mean probability of human error in the PTW system was estimated to be 0.11. The highest probability of human error in the PTW process was related to flammable gas testing (50.7%). CONCLUSION: The SPAR-H method applied in this study could analyze and quantify the potential human errors and extract the required measures for reducing the error probabilities in PTW system. Some suggestions to reduce the likelihood of errors, especially in the field of modifying the performance shaping factors and dependencies among tasks are provided.

Needle Stick Injuries and their Related Safety Measures among Nurses in a University Hospital, Shiraz, Iran.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors related to needle stick injuries (NSIs) and to assess related safety measures among a sample of Iranian nurses. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a random sample of 168 registered active nurses was selected from different wards of one of the hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS). Data were collected by an anonymous questionnaire and a checklist based observational method among the 168 registered active nurses. RESULTS: The prevalence of NSIs in the total of work experience and the last year was 76% and 54%, respectively. Hollow-bore needles were the most common devices involved in the injuries (85.5%). The majority of NSIs occurred in the morning shift (57.8%) and the most common activity leading to NSIs was recapping needles (41.4%). The rate of underreporting NSIs was 60.2% and the major reasons for not reporting the NSIs were heavy clinical schedule (46.7%) and perception of low risk of infection (37.7%). A statistically significant relationship was found between the occurrence of NSIs and sex, hours worked/week, and frequency of shifts/month. CONCLUSION: The study showed a high prevalence of NSIs among nurses. Supportive measures such as improving injection practices, modification of working schedule, planning training programs targeted at using personal protective equipment, and providing an adequate number of safety facilities such as puncture resistant disposal containers and engineered safe devices are essential for the effective prevention of NSI incidents among the studied nurses.