Increasing safety by implementing optimized structures of team communication and the mandatory use of checklists.

摘要

To err is human. This statement is true for all activities where human beings are involved. If safety-critical work has to be performed-independent of the type of industry (aviation, nuclear or medicine)-certain structures and concepts have to be implemented to achieve a high level of safety. Table 1 shows the average mean time between failures (MTBFs) when different tasks have to be performed by human beings.We learn from research work done by Professor Bubb of the Technical University of Munich that we have to expect an average of ~15 work errors per person per working day. This is true only for a relaxed working atmosphere. If time pressure and stress increase, the MTBF decreases to one error every half minute. Most of the errors are identified immediately after they happen, but some remain undetected. We need special strategies to neutralize the errors, omissions and mistakes before they cause major problems.