Human Factors in the Chemical and Process Industries

Chapter 4

Current regulatory and government focus on human factors

J. Wilkinson

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of current regulatory frameworks and key areas of focus for human factors. The UK and EU major hazard and occupational health and safety regime is described along with some example regulatory approaches worldwide, including the United States and Australia. Regulation varies from vestigial to more detailed prescriptive and goal-setting regimes. The merits of the latter two main approaches are discussed in the context of an example, the Macondo Well disaster, and the use of a safety case approach for higher hazard operations as mandated in the EU and Australia. The UK “key topics” approach is discussed as a specific example ...