The HOF 5×5 is a recent model and classification of Human and Organisational Factors (HOF). Inputs from operational safety staff, experts of different kinds and SMS regulation were integrated.
Just as in other sectors of industry, the railway is organised as a socio-technical system.
To better understand and manage such interactions, it is useful to refer to a HOF model, to make it explicit, and to use it whenever necessary. The choice of a neutral and systemic HOF model and classification, with interacting factors that can be easily linked to the SMS requirements and to safety culture, is crucial whatever the model is.
The HOF 5×5 is neutral on the concept of human error and prefers the notion of performance variability. It includes important topics which are more socio-interactional.
Its structure helps to distinguish between more dynamic or static factors, and between factors more tied to the situation or to the staff. This helps to take into account that safety-related activities are dynamic in real time, but also prepared, organised and decided, beforehand, in a more static situation. This also helps to illustrate that there are no people “isolated” in a system, that there is always a situation with other people, working conditions, etc.
Its composition was intentionally limited to 5 factors for each of the 5 categories to facilitate its use and memorisation.
The structure and composition are driven by the aim of providing non-HOF experts with a quick but well-defined and solid overview of the most critical HOF, forging a “HOF mindset” and allowing a more systemic approach when questioning and documenting variability in system performance.
What are the key HOF issues? When we are talking about a "Human Factors" approach, generally we are positively received at the beginning. First, there is curiosity, a desire to know quite more about this new point of...
Abstract: In order to manage the performance of socio-technical systems in a safe and sustainable way, the importance of looking at human and organisational factors (HOF) and their contribution to adverse events is...
What are the key HOF issues? When we are talking about a "Human Factors" approach, generally we are positively received at the beginning. First, there is curiosity, a desire to know quite more about this new point of view. In a second time, our...
Abstract: In order to manage the performance of socio-technical systems in a safe and sustainable way, the importance of looking at human and organisational factors (HOF) and their contribution to adverse events is widely recognised. In reality,...
What are the key HOF issues? When we are talking about a "Human Factors" approach, generally we are positively received at the beginning. First, there is curiosity, a desire to know quite more about this new point of view. In a second time, our...
Abstract: In order to manage the performance of socio-technical systems in a safe and sustainable way, the importance of looking at human and organisational factors (HOF) and their contribution to adverse events is widely recognised. In reality,...
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