Risk Assessment: Tools, Techniques, and Their Applications

5.2 Why A Task Analysis?

Evaluation and design of a system using task analysis effectively integrates the human element into the system design and/or operation. In utilizing this analysis in system design, you effectively consider the human as a component of the system to ensure efficient and safe operation. To be effective, the task analysis must look at the system as comprising three interrelated components: human operator, equipment, and environment. This systematic analysis of the tasks results in equipment that is safer to use, easier to maintain, and operated using effective procedures. Through a task analysis, you can build a concrete and thorough description of the task and can attain a clear definition of what other factors contribute to the system.

Task analysis provides a great deal of information and insight into possible areas for performance improvement in systems, equipment, and workers. It can also aid in identifying areas of waste, in terms of time, resources, production, and dollars. A task analysis identifies weaknesses in the production process and in human performance. It identifies both what is working well and what is not working within the current organization (4). And a task analysis can provide knowledge of the tasks that the user wishes to perform. Therefore, it can be a reference in which the value of the system functions and features can be tested (3).