While there has been more and more attention on the perspective of the human aspects of occupational safety in recent years, workplaces have lacked the practical means of implementation. This has also garnered international attention.
“The HF Tool™ model is backed by research, which has already been recognized also in international research,” says Anna-Maria Teperi, Research Professor at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
Human factors (HF) refer to factors that can be observed in the operations of organizations, actions of people as well as the work that can either degrade or reinforce safety, health and the smoothness of the work.
The perspective supports the creation of a positive and proactive safety culture. Accidents are considered learning points that help predict disturbances and deviations in the work.
Proactive operating methods help manage changes
Fintraffic Raide’s responsibility is to manage railway traffic in Finland. Occupational safety risks arise in relation to rush, time pressure and fast-paced decision-making.
Following the co-operation with the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, human factors are now taken into consideration in the management of deviations in accordance with the HF Tool™ model and event analysis model. In risk management, the impacts of changes as well as the related risk factors are identified.
“Among other things, we have been carrying out thorough deviation research for years. As part of this, the actions of people and the factors affecting them have also been taken into consideration. However, we wanted more systematic management of the human factors in order to focus on the relevant things, with regard to the extent of the subject,” says Toni Hytönen, Safety Director at Fintraffic Raide.
Occupational safety competence for all employee levels
Fintraffic Raide aims to train all of its personnel on the subject of human factors. As for the supervisors and experts, there is a plan for them to eventually master the subject.
“Occupational safety at Fintraffic Raide is now being developed holistically from the perspective of the human factors. The senior management recognizes the goals as to the development of occupational safety, and every employee will undergo basic HF training,” says the project manager for the project, Tarja Heikkilä from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
In the project, occupational safety practices were updated on the basis of interviews and traffic management and operating centre observation.
“In addition, we made use of the expertise of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health from the perspective of the analysis and as support in systems development,” says Toni Hytönen from Fintraffic Raide.
Further information
- Anna-Maria Teperi, Research Professor, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, tel. +358 30 474 2371, anna-maria.teperi [at] ttl.fi (anna-maria[dot]teperi[at]ttl[dot]fi)
- Tarja Heikkilä, Project Manager, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, tel. +358 30 474 8636, tarja.heikkila [at] ttl.fi (tarja[dot]heikkila[at]ttl[dot]fi)
