Aims

This working group aims to support practitioners, regulators and researchers to develop leading edge techniques in hazard analysis and the safety engineering of computer-based systems. Particular emphasis will be on the role of human error both in the development and in the operation of complex processes and on techniques that can be easily integrated into existing system engineering practices. Specifically, the aims are

• to provide a framework for studying human factors that relate to systems failure;
• to provide a forum for practitioners, regulators and researchers interested in the ‘human contribution’ to major accidents and incidents;
• to identify leading edge techniques for the development of safety-critical interactive systems and integrate them with existing systems engineering techniques;
• to support and guide international accreditation activities in the area of safety-critical systems.

Scope

To build on existing work in IFIP member countries in the following areas:

• techniques for analysing human, managerial and organisational factors that relate to the occurrence of accidents;
• the integration of human factors concerns into risk analysis and assessment;
• the integration of human factors concerns into systems engineering techniques for safety-critical systems development;
• the ergonomics of human-computer interaction with safety-critical applications;
• the role of human error both in the development and in the operation of complex processes.

Membership

Membership is open to all researchers and practitioners interested in user-centered design and realted techniques, tools and processes. The only criterion is that you participate in the groups activities. To join the group, you need to submit papers to the one of the event organized by the group including meetings, workshops, conferences, etc. or you just attend the event. When you have attended two events within a reasonably short time intervals (e.g. 3 years) and you wish to join, contact the secretary. Membership is usually granted automatically subject to continued participation in the group's activities

Home Page

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