by the authors, and presented at a special session of the winter scientific meeting of the Association of Anaesthetists in London from 12-13 January, draw on 'human factors' principles and strategies that have been successfully incorporated into other safety critical industries, including aviation, nuclear power, offshore oil and gas, construction, rail, and the military. They acknowledge that as many as 1 in 10 patients may be harmed by their interactions with the health service.
The researchers noted that healthcare relies on high levels of human performance, but that this is variable "and is recognised to fail in high-pressure situations" – meaning that it is not a reliable method of ensuring safety.
The guidance comprises 12 recommendations that address issues, including: training; education; the design of medical equipment and operating theatres; using the most effective equipment; effective use of checklists before operating; encouraging staff of any seniority to speak up if they have safety concerns; the ability to learn from situations where things have gone wrong, sometimes fatally so, and also from situations where things have gone well.
Incorporating human factors in the design of safe working environments with regular reviews to ensure that safety has not been compromised.