![Sample our Economics, Finance,Business & Industry journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5931/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Economics-Finance-Business-Industry.jpg"})
Abstract
Observations were made of the errors made by eight air-traffic controllers over two periods each of 2½ hours. Errors were classified using a recently devised classification of motor-program errors (Reason 1979) and all the controllers were observed under three conditions of workload, and performing two ostensibly similar air-traffic tasks.
More errors were found with increasing workload, but only in one of the tasks This was interpreted in terms of the pacing and time stress inherently imposed in that task. The assessment of error incidence seems a good candidate as a non-intrusive measure of workload. Analysis of errors in terms of Reason's typology showed no interaction with any of the other variables.
The association of errors with the use of particular pieces of equipment demonstrated ergonomic deficiencies which may have otherwise remained unnoticed It seems that error auditing may also be a useful investigative technique in ergonomic assessment.