Click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NolMtorsMw0
UIC HOFWG: Video of the webinar on ETCS & Human and Organisational Factors (HOF) Return of Experience 2025
read more
HOFs in practice
About this topic
Introduction
The human factors discipline provides a theoretical knowledge base which can be applied to optimise systems for safety, human performance and wellbeing. These theory, principles, and methods can be applied in at different stages of the lifecycle, from conceptual design of new systems through to their operation and decommissioning. The practical application of HOF also applies to different parts of an organisation from frontline operational staff through to senior management.
Relevance to Rail
There are many areas of application for HOF in rail; examples are the application of HOF principles to the design of cabs or traffic management systems, and the design of alarms. Applying HOF in cases such as these helps to identify where safety and performance issues could arise during operation, and design those issues out as much as possible. Maintenance activities are critical to the operation of the railway and HOF methods and approaches can help ensure that maintenance tasks and activities are designed to account for human limitations and capabilities. A very specific area of application for rail is the understanding and mitigation of SPAD risk, particularly through identification of some of the factors that influence SPADs.
Approaches and models
The key principles of applying ergonomics and human factors can be found in ISO-26800 and are:
- An ergonomics approach to design shall be human-centred
- The target population shall be identified and described
- Design shall take full account of the nature of the task and its implications for the human
- The physical, organisational, social, and legal environments in which a system, product, service or facility is intended to be used shall be identified and described, and their range defined.
UIC HOFWG: Slide Deck from the Safety Webinar “ETCS & HOF: Return of Experience 2025”
Click here https://railhof.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/FINAL-version-2-presentations-webinar-ETCS-HOF-5-Nov-25.pdf
UIC HOFWG: REPORT ETCS HOF REX from the workshop June 11-12
Read more https://railhof.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ETCS-%E2%80%93-HOF-Return-of-Experience_complet_V1.pdf
RISSB: SPAD Risk Management- Guideline
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiL6dPkucCTAxUoOPsDHQApPVcQFnoECBYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ariso.org.au%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F03%2F141009_20...
ERA Automation Myth Busting Paper#1: Automated Railway – Operation as Usual: Best Practice to Achieve Situational Awareness.
Abstract: This article aims to provide insights into achieving situational awareness as a basis for safe automated railway operations. Automation in rail transport has a significant influence on employees’ situational awareness…
ERA Automation Myth Busting Paper#3: Automation and mental workload
Abstract: It is easy to assume that introducing automation into a task would decrease the mental workload on the operator – after all, if they are doing less, then the task must be easier. It also makes intuitive sense that…
ERA Automation Myth Busting Paper#4: New form of teamwork: Teaming between humans and automation
Abstract: Due to technological advances, automation is nowadays no longer regarded only as a tool for humans but, due to the execution of complex tasks, is increasingly discussed in terms of a team member. This article describes how successful teaming…
RSSB: How to use the SPAD toolbox
Click here https://www.rssb.co.uk/about-rssb/key-industry-topics/spad-good-practice-guide/how-to-use-the-spad-toolbox
RSSB: SPAD Good Practice Guide
Click here https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/key-industry-topics/spad-good-practice-guide
Mühl, K. (2021). Automated Railway – Operation as Usual: Best Practice to Achieve Situational Awareness. Automation myth busting series
Abstract This article aims to provide insights into achieving situational awareness as a basis for safe automated railway operations. Automation in rail transport has a significant influence on employees' situational...
RENFE: Safety Reporting
What are the key HOF issues? The Strategic Plan of Renfe contains an ambitious transformation programme based on digitalisation and safety culture. A key aspect of the programme is the development of a confidential...
RSSB: Evaluation of Human Performance
What are the key HOF issues? Despite the ongoing efforts from industry to improve safety and performance, there is an indication that we are now seeing diminishing returns in investments into improvements that the rail...
RSSB: Capturing detailed Human Factors causal data for SPAD events
What are the key HOF issues? The Safety Management Intelligence System, known to many as SMIS, is the rail industry’s on-line health and safety reporting and business intelligence software. It collects and provides...
IRISH RAIL: HOF in SPADs
What are the key HOF issues? The immediate cause of signals passed at danger is often a lapse in concentration by a driver on approach to the signal. This can mean that the obvious focus for an investigation is on the...
ISO: 26800:2011 Ergonomics – General approach, principles and concepts
https://www.iso.org/standard/42885.html
EN IEC 62682: 2023 Management of alarm systems for the process industries
Click here https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/clc/80011507-3d79-491d-bc36-600192bedc0a/en-iec-62682-2023
UIC Leaflet 651: Layout of driver’s cabs in locomotives, railcars, multiple trains and driving trailers
Click here https://shop.uic.org/en/65-general-regulations-governing-various-modes-of-traction-continuation/1969-layout-of-driver-s-cabs-in-locomotives-railcars-multiple-unit-trains-and-driving-trailers.html
ISO 9241 – 303: 2011 Ergonomics of human-system interaction – part 303: requirements for electronic visual displays
Click here https://www.iso.org/standard/57992.html
EN 16186 (Parts 1 – 4): 2019 Railway applications – Driver’s cab
Click here https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/cen/7fb7d01f-4ddd-40e9-a390-0ed2e86ba3c0/en-16186-4-2019
Bainbridge, L. (1983), “Ironies of automation. Automatica”, (19(6), 775-779)
Abstract This paper discusses the ways in which automation of industrial processes may expand rather than eliminate problems with the human operator. Some comments will... https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-1098(83)90046-8
Flemisch, F. et al, (2012), “Towards a dynamic balance between humans and automation: authority, ability, responsibility and control in shared and cooperative control situations”, (Cogn Tech Work 14:3–18)
Abstract: Progress enables the creation of more automated and intelligent machines with increasing abilities that open up new roles between humans and machines. Only with a proper design for the resulting cooperative...
CIEHF: Human Factors in Highly Automated Systems
https://ergonomics.org.uk/resource/human-factors-in-highly-automated-systems-white-paper.html
SYSTRA: Traffic Management Systems (TMS) Implementation at Home and Abroad
Click here https://www.systra.com/australia/news/traffic-management-systems/
GB MINISTRY OF DEFENCE: Human Factors Integration for Defence Systems
Click here https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1061681/JSP912_Part_2.pdf
Reason, J. (1997), “Managing the risk of organisational accidents”, (Ashgate: Farnham).
Abstract: Major accidents are rare events due to the many barriers, safeguards and defences developed by modern technologies. But they continue to happen with saddening regularity and their human and financial...
RSSB: Guide on applying Human Factors to Improve Performance
Click here https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/improving-safety-health-and-wellbeing/understanding-human-factors/applying-human-factors-to-improve-performance
Crescencio. A, et al. (2022), “Human error analysis at Valencia railway operation control. Training proposal aimed at reducing human error”
Abstract: The objective of this paper is to present the human factors training methodology in Adif and its theoretical bases. This methodology represents a different way of understanding safety, more focused on what to...
Human and Organisational Factors (HOF) in Railway Automation
Human and Organisational Factors (HOF) in Railway Automation
UIC HOFWG: Video of the webinar on ETCS & Human and Organisational Factors (HOF) Return of Experience 2025
Click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NolMtorsMw0
UIC HOFWG: Slide Deck from the Safety Webinar “ETCS & HOF: Return of Experience 2025”
Click here https://railhof.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/FINAL-version-2-presentations-webinar-ETCS-HOF-5-Nov-25.pdf
UIC HOFWG: REPORT ETCS HOF REX from the workshop June 11-12
Read more https://railhof.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ETCS-%E2%80%93-HOF-Return-of-Experience_complet_V1.pdf
RISSB: SPAD Risk Management- Guideline
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiL6dPkucCTAxUoOPsDHQApPVcQFnoECBYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ariso.org.au%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F03%2F141009_203423_SPAD-Risk-Management-Guideline...
ERA Automation Myth Busting Paper#1: Automated Railway – Operation as Usual: Best Practice to Achieve Situational Awareness.
Abstract: This article aims to provide insights into achieving situational awareness as a basis for safe automated railway operations. Automation in rail transport has a significant influence on employees’ situational awareness…
ERA Automation Myth Busting Paper#3: Automation and mental workload
Abstract: It is easy to assume that introducing automation into a task would decrease the mental workload on the operator – after all, if they are doing less, then the task must be easier. It also makes intuitive sense that…
ERA Automation Myth Busting Paper#4: New form of teamwork: Teaming between humans and automation
Abstract: Due to technological advances, automation is nowadays no longer regarded only as a tool for humans but, due to the execution of complex tasks, is increasingly discussed in terms of a team member. This article describes how successful teaming…
RSSB: How to use the SPAD toolbox
Click here https://www.rssb.co.uk/about-rssb/key-industry-topics/spad-good-practice-guide/how-to-use-the-spad-toolbox
RSSB: SPAD Good Practice Guide
Click here https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/key-industry-topics/spad-good-practice-guide
Mühl, K. (2021). Automated Railway – Operation as Usual: Best Practice to Achieve Situational Awareness. Automation myth busting series
Abstract This article aims to provide insights into achieving situational awareness as a basis for safe automated railway operations. Automation in rail transport has a significant influence on employees' situational awareness (perception, understanding...
RENFE: Safety Reporting
What are the key HOF issues? The Strategic Plan of Renfe contains an ambitious transformation programme based on digitalisation and safety culture. A key aspect of the programme is the development of a confidential reporting system of near misses that...
RSSB: Evaluation of Human Performance
What are the key HOF issues? Despite the ongoing efforts from industry to improve safety and performance, there is an indication that we are now seeing diminishing returns in investments into improvements that the rail industry makes. It is important...
RSSB: Capturing detailed Human Factors causal data for SPAD events
What are the key HOF issues? The Safety Management Intelligence System, known to many as SMIS, is the rail industry’s on-line health and safety reporting and business intelligence software. It collects and provides access to information on thousands of...
IRISH RAIL: HOF in SPADs
What are the key HOF issues? The immediate cause of signals passed at danger is often a lapse in concentration by a driver on approach to the signal. This can mean that the obvious focus for an investigation is on the actions (or inactions) of the...
ISO: 26800:2011 Ergonomics – General approach, principles and concepts
https://www.iso.org/standard/42885.html
EN IEC 62682: 2023 Management of alarm systems for the process industries
Click here https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/clc/80011507-3d79-491d-bc36-600192bedc0a/en-iec-62682-2023
UIC Leaflet 651: Layout of driver’s cabs in locomotives, railcars, multiple trains and driving trailers
Click here https://shop.uic.org/en/65-general-regulations-governing-various-modes-of-traction-continuation/1969-layout-of-driver-s-cabs-in-locomotives-railcars-multiple-unit-trains-and-driving-trailers.html
ISO 9241 – 303: 2011 Ergonomics of human-system interaction – part 303: requirements for electronic visual displays
Click here https://www.iso.org/standard/57992.html
EN 16186 (Parts 1 – 4): 2019 Railway applications – Driver’s cab
Click here https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/cen/7fb7d01f-4ddd-40e9-a390-0ed2e86ba3c0/en-16186-4-2019
Bainbridge, L. (1983), “Ironies of automation. Automatica”, (19(6), 775-779)
Abstract This paper discusses the ways in which automation of industrial processes may expand rather than eliminate problems with the human operator. Some comments will... https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-1098(83)90046-8
Flemisch, F. et al, (2012), “Towards a dynamic balance between humans and automation: authority, ability, responsibility and control in shared and cooperative control situations”, (Cogn Tech Work 14:3–18)
Abstract: Progress enables the creation of more automated and intelligent machines with increasing abilities that open up new roles between humans and machines. Only with a proper design for the resulting cooperative human–machine systems, these...
CIEHF: Human Factors in Highly Automated Systems
https://ergonomics.org.uk/resource/human-factors-in-highly-automated-systems-white-paper.html
SYSTRA: Traffic Management Systems (TMS) Implementation at Home and Abroad
Click here https://www.systra.com/australia/news/traffic-management-systems/
GB MINISTRY OF DEFENCE: Human Factors Integration for Defence Systems
Click here https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1061681/JSP912_Part_2.pdf
Reason, J. (1997), “Managing the risk of organisational accidents”, (Ashgate: Farnham).
Abstract: Major accidents are rare events due to the many barriers, safeguards and defences developed by modern technologies. But they continue to happen with saddening regularity and their human and financial consequences are all too often unacceptably...
RSSB: Guide on applying Human Factors to Improve Performance
Click here https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/improving-safety-health-and-wellbeing/understanding-human-factors/applying-human-factors-to-improve-performance
Crescencio. A, et al. (2022), “Human error analysis at Valencia railway operation control. Training proposal aimed at reducing human error”
Abstract: The objective of this paper is to present the human factors training methodology in Adif and its theoretical bases. This methodology represents a different way of understanding safety, more focused on what to do and what to know than how to do...
Human and Organisational Factors (HOF) in Railway Automation
Human and Organisational Factors (HOF) in Railway Automation
UIC HOFWG: Video of the webinar on ETCS & Human and Organisational Factors (HOF) Return of Experience 2025
Click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NolMtorsMw0
UIC HOFWG: Slide Deck from the Safety Webinar “ETCS & HOF: Return of Experience 2025”
Click here https://railhof.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/FINAL-version-2-presentations-webinar-ETCS-HOF-5-Nov-25.pdf
UIC HOFWG: REPORT ETCS HOF REX from the workshop June 11-12
Read more https://railhof.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ETCS-%E2%80%93-HOF-Return-of-Experience_complet_V1.pdf
RISSB: SPAD Risk Management- Guideline
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiL6dPkucCTAxUoOPsDHQApPVcQFnoECBYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ariso.org.au%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F03%2F141009_203423_SPAD-Risk-Management-Guideline...
ERA Automation Myth Busting Paper#1: Automated Railway – Operation as Usual: Best Practice to Achieve Situational Awareness.
Abstract: This article aims to provide insights into achieving situational awareness as a basis for safe automated railway operations. Automation in rail transport has a significant influence on employees’ situational awareness…
ERA Automation Myth Busting Paper#3: Automation and mental workload
Abstract: It is easy to assume that introducing automation into a task would decrease the mental workload on the operator – after all, if they are doing less, then the task must be easier. It also makes intuitive sense that…
ERA Automation Myth Busting Paper#4: New form of teamwork: Teaming between humans and automation
Abstract: Due to technological advances, automation is nowadays no longer regarded only as a tool for humans but, due to the execution of complex tasks, is increasingly discussed in terms of a team member. This article describes how successful teaming…
RSSB: How to use the SPAD toolbox
Click here https://www.rssb.co.uk/about-rssb/key-industry-topics/spad-good-practice-guide/how-to-use-the-spad-toolbox
RSSB: SPAD Good Practice Guide
Click here https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/key-industry-topics/spad-good-practice-guide
Mühl, K. (2021). Automated Railway – Operation as Usual: Best Practice to Achieve Situational Awareness. Automation myth busting series
Abstract This article aims to provide insights into achieving situational awareness as a basis for safe automated railway operations. Automation in rail transport has a significant influence on employees' situational awareness (perception, understanding...
RENFE: Safety Reporting
What are the key HOF issues? The Strategic Plan of Renfe contains an ambitious transformation programme based on digitalisation and safety culture. A key aspect of the programme is the development of a confidential reporting system of near misses that...
RSSB: Evaluation of Human Performance
What are the key HOF issues? Despite the ongoing efforts from industry to improve safety and performance, there is an indication that we are now seeing diminishing returns in investments into improvements that the rail industry makes. It is important...
RSSB: Capturing detailed Human Factors causal data for SPAD events
What are the key HOF issues? The Safety Management Intelligence System, known to many as SMIS, is the rail industry’s on-line health and safety reporting and business intelligence software. It collects and provides access to information on thousands of...
IRISH RAIL: HOF in SPADs
What are the key HOF issues? The immediate cause of signals passed at danger is often a lapse in concentration by a driver on approach to the signal. This can mean that the obvious focus for an investigation is on the actions (or inactions) of the...
ISO: 26800:2011 Ergonomics – General approach, principles and concepts
https://www.iso.org/standard/42885.html
EN IEC 62682: 2023 Management of alarm systems for the process industries
Click here https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/clc/80011507-3d79-491d-bc36-600192bedc0a/en-iec-62682-2023
UIC Leaflet 651: Layout of driver’s cabs in locomotives, railcars, multiple trains and driving trailers
Click here https://shop.uic.org/en/65-general-regulations-governing-various-modes-of-traction-continuation/1969-layout-of-driver-s-cabs-in-locomotives-railcars-multiple-unit-trains-and-driving-trailers.html
ISO 9241 – 303: 2011 Ergonomics of human-system interaction – part 303: requirements for electronic visual displays
Click here https://www.iso.org/standard/57992.html
EN 16186 (Parts 1 – 4): 2019 Railway applications – Driver’s cab
Click here https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/cen/7fb7d01f-4ddd-40e9-a390-0ed2e86ba3c0/en-16186-4-2019
Bainbridge, L. (1983), “Ironies of automation. Automatica”, (19(6), 775-779)
Abstract This paper discusses the ways in which automation of industrial processes may expand rather than eliminate problems with the human operator. Some comments will... https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-1098(83)90046-8
Flemisch, F. et al, (2012), “Towards a dynamic balance between humans and automation: authority, ability, responsibility and control in shared and cooperative control situations”, (Cogn Tech Work 14:3–18)
Abstract: Progress enables the creation of more automated and intelligent machines with increasing abilities that open up new roles between humans and machines. Only with a proper design for the resulting cooperative human–machine systems, these...
CIEHF: Human Factors in Highly Automated Systems
https://ergonomics.org.uk/resource/human-factors-in-highly-automated-systems-white-paper.html
SYSTRA: Traffic Management Systems (TMS) Implementation at Home and Abroad
Click here https://www.systra.com/australia/news/traffic-management-systems/
GB MINISTRY OF DEFENCE: Human Factors Integration for Defence Systems
Click here https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1061681/JSP912_Part_2.pdf
Reason, J. (1997), “Managing the risk of organisational accidents”, (Ashgate: Farnham).
Abstract: Major accidents are rare events due to the many barriers, safeguards and defences developed by modern technologies. But they continue to happen with saddening regularity and their human and financial consequences are all too often unacceptably...
RSSB: Guide on applying Human Factors to Improve Performance
Click here https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/improving-safety-health-and-wellbeing/understanding-human-factors/applying-human-factors-to-improve-performance
Crescencio. A, et al. (2022), “Human error analysis at Valencia railway operation control. Training proposal aimed at reducing human error”
Abstract: The objective of this paper is to present the human factors training methodology in Adif and its theoretical bases. This methodology represents a different way of understanding safety, more focused on what to do and what to know than how to do...
Human and Organisational Factors (HOF) in Railway Automation
Human and Organisational Factors (HOF) in Railway Automation
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