Unless integrated with the CDM (Construction Design and Management) function, the HF practitioner will typically have little concern with the actual construction of any physical systems other than the continued assessment as necessary or supporting any last minute changes. With the detailed design closed out and subject to little further change, it is prudent to capture the existing information and look ahead to the future requirements of the project. This will typically entail the development of Test Specifications Operational Procedures and consideration of Training design, development and materials.
- Design Support
During construction it is likely that issues will emerge and last minute design changes or compromises will have to be made. The HF practitioner will assess the impact on the design in terms of Human Factors and human performance implications and make recommendations as to the acceptability of the design change.
- Human Factors and Safety Assurance
In an assurance capacity, the HF practitioner will be ensuring that the project contractors and/or subcontractors are applying due consideration to HF issues and are delivering the correct outputs. They will also be facilitating and furnishing sub-contractors with information and access to end-users as required.
- Operational Procedures
Where new equipment or processes are brought into operation, if people carry on doing what they did before the whole exercise may be a waste of time. The organisation must adapt to the new systems being introduced. Once the design has been fixed, the operational procedures can be developed as a result of ongoing testing. They should define precisely how the new systems are to be used within the new operational context. Procedures must also be developed defining how the new systems should be operated during degraded or emergency scenarios.
- Training Needs Analysis (TNA)
The training needs analysis is a formal way of determining what the operators currently know, what they need to know in the future (to work with the new systems) and how they will be trained. The document will flow down from the Target Audience Description and Task Analysis work (baseline and predictive). Once the TNA is mature, it can be used to guide to the development of training courses and materials.
- Training Materials Development
Once the design has been fixed and the TNA is underway, attention can be turned to the development of training materials and training courses. In many cases the delivery of training will need to be carefully scheduled to ensure that it coincides with delivery and handover of capability. Too soon risks skill-fade. Too late is just too late!
For the introduction of larger systems, consideration of training and the design of training facilities and simulators would have occurred significantly earlier in the project lifecycle.
Given their understanding of the tasks and operations derived from the task analysis, HF practitioners are often well placed to assess the quality of Operations and Maintenance Manuals delivered to or by the project.
- Develop Final Test Specifications
During the requirements capture phase, baseline Factory and Site Acceptance test procedures should have been developed. These will need to be finalised in preparation for the Testing and Commissioning Phase.
Return to: Design and Assessment Phase
Next Phase: Testing and Commissioning