Evica Stojiljkovic

The selection of the key ergonomic indicators influencing work efficiency in railway control rooms

This paper presents an analytical–synthetic model of ergonomic research of the abilities of the dispatcher/operator in the control room for the automatic control of railway transportation. Twenty performance indicators describing the operators’ performance (work capacity and perceptive abilities) and the main characteristics of the control room (work organization and ergo-technical analysis) are identified. A group fuzzy analytic hierarchy process is applied in the process of ranking and selection of key performance indicators of railway control rooms. The selected key performance indicators (the operator’s hand movement, visual symptoms of fatigue, device error analysis, location and dimensions of the control desk) are analysed in detail.

The state of play in disseminating LCM practices in the Western Balkan region: the attitude of Serbian SMEs

PurposeThis paper aims to depict the current state of play in the use of life cycle management (LCM) in Serbia, as the largest Western Balkan economy, and to recognize suitable channels for distributing the concept among regional manufacturers and businesses, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It tries to answer two principal research questions: What is the level of awareness/acceptance of life cycle thinking (LCT) among local industries and service providers? Is there any critical level of interest in the subject that could justify the transfer of knowledge regionwide at an institutional level?MethodsThe pilot study testing the state of play for broader LCM awareness is briefly presented and discussed. An internet-based questionnaire was designed to reveal the general acceptance of life cycle assessment (LCA)/LCM principles and distributed to 320 enterprises and public institutions throughout Serbia. The data obtained were categorized into clusters and subjected to descriptive, summary statistics by a standard statistical software package. Archival research data were analyzed upon a review of available literature and compared to the obtained results in order to support and/or explain the findings.Results and discussionThere is a dependence between membership in the Chamber of Commerce and the perceived significance of LCM for business development. Also, there is dependence between a company’s membership in Cluster House and willingness to be trained in LCM/LCA. Both tendencies should be attributed to the important educational role that those umbrella organizations have performed in recent years. Their networks should be further utilized in the dissemination of the LCM approach in the region. The survey revealed a significant lack of awareness about the subject among the representatives of different industrial sectors where SMEs operate. The results and conclusions presented in this paper to a fair extent support findings disclosed in other works related to the industrial and/or environmental performances of SMEs in the EU and elsewhere. LCA/LCM principles and procedures remain widely unknown, or at least seldom applied in Serbia. The vast majority of manufacturers do not fully recognize the potential of LCA practices for the substantial improvement of their products. The environmental consequences of growing consumerism threaten to hit the weak economies of the Western Balkans hard, unless some level of LCM awareness is achieved. The integration and mainstreaming of life cycle thinking by a wide range of local, national, and supranational bodies is obviously needed. Therefore, promotion of the LCT concept is of particular importance for all Western Balkan countries and their environment, endangered by prospective re-industrialization.ConclusionsSerbian SMEs that do business with predominantly foreign (OECD) clients seem to be more prone to implementing environmental measures. The influence of corporate culture from developed nations is obviously a good impetus for environmental responsibility. Those that implement simple environmental measures seem to be more likely to perceive the importance of LCM for business development. Even simple environmentally friendly activities bring the company closer to environmental problems, and provoke a change in perspective toward the environmental burden. Dissemination of information on the benefits that LCT could bring to manufacturers, consumers, and the entire society is of great importance for both the environment and economy of the Western Balkans. Regional SMEs would certainly need a kind of hub to exchange their experience and compare the results of life cycle-based activities with other companies and academia. A very important factor for the successful dissemination of LCM practices could be a designated national and/or regional umbrella organization that would take advantage of the Chamber of Commerce network and its infrastructure to further spread the concept throughout the region.

Development and Application of a Decision Support System for Human Reliability Assessment – A Case Study of an Electric Power Company

This paper describes the human reliability assessment using absolute probability judgment (APJ) method in the Electric Power Company of Serbia (EPS). Taking into account conventional APJ approach, a new decision support tool EPS-APJ was developed. The EPS-APJ tool is intended for use by a group of experts for human error probability assessment. The basic goal of the tool is to facilitate the process of decision-making by experts, in the complex environment of the electric power companies. The usefulness of this new tool is approved in a case study of use of the EPS-APJ for the purpose of the analysis of a repair intervention on a 10/0.4-kV steel lattice tower ‘Nogaje’, in the EPS. For the purpose of this study, a database on work-related injuries, accidents, and critical interventions occurred over a 10-year period was created. The research comprised analysis of 1074 workplaces, with the total of 3997 employees. The case study performed at the EPS has confirmed that the EPS-APJ tool for quantification of human errors is highly applicable, comprehensive, and simple to use. Comparison of the results obtained by application of the EPS-APJ tool versus the basic APJ method has confirmed the accuracy of the decision support tool, and significant speed advantage in conducting an expert evaluation. Copyright

The Role of Human Error Analysis in Occupational and Environmental Risk Assessment: A Serbian Experience

ABSTRACT Human error analysis is certainly a challenge today for all involved in safety and environmental risk assessment. The risk assessment process should not ignore the role of humans in accidental events and the consequences that may derive from human error. This article presents a case study of the Success Likelihood Index Method (SLIM) applied to the Electric Power Company of Serbia (EPCS), with the aim to disclose the importance of human error analysis in risk assessment. A database on work-related injuries, accidents, and critical interventions that occurred over a 10-year period in the EPCS provided the basis for this study. The research comprised analysis of 1074 workplaces, with a total of 3997 employees. A detailed analysis identified 10 typical human errors, performance shaping factors (PSFs), and estimated human error probability (HEP). Based on the obtained research results one can conclude that PSF control remains crucial for human error reduction, and thus prevention of occupational injuries and fatalities (the number of injuries decreased from 58 in 2012 to 44 in 2013, no fatalities recorded). Furthermore, the case study performed at the EPCS confirmed that the SLIM is highly applicable for quantification of human errors, comprehensive, and easy to perform.

APPLICATION OF HEART TECHNIQUE FOR HUMAN RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT – A SERBIAN EXPERIENCE

In complex industrial systems, human error has been cited as a cause or a contributing factor in accidents and disasters. The need for improved Human Reliability Assessment (HRA) methodologies that should be applied in Probabilistic Safety Assessments, ever since the early 1990s, has motivated a number of major activities in research and development worldwide. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to show the practical application of Human Error Assessment and Reduction Technique (HEART) for HRA in Electric Power Company of Serbia (EPCS). The usefulness of this technique for HRA has been approved in a case study of an accident which occurred during a repair on a 10/0.4 kV steel lattice tower “Maricice“, Kursumlija (jurisdiction of EPCS, ED “Jugoistok”, Nis, Serbia). For the purpose of this study, a database on work-related injuries, accidents, and critical interventions that occurred over a 10-year period was created. The research comprised an analysis of 1074 workplaces, with a total of 3997 employees. The case study performed at the EPCS confirmed that the HEART is based on knowledge of human activities and relies on expert opinion to determine the Error Producing Condition (EPCs) that affected the situation. The HEART can be used in different industrial systems, as a risk assessment, accident investigation and design tool. In addition, it is a relatively fast tool for assessment of human error probability that is easily applied and understood.

Pilot error in process of helicopter starting

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify potential helicopter pilots’ errors during their interaction with the flight deck in the process of starting a helicopter in night-time conditions. Design/methodology/approach Systematic Human Error Reduction and Prediction Approach is used for the analysis of the pilot–flight deck interaction. This methodology was used for the identification of errors for 30 pilots during a period of 10 years. In total, 55 errors were identified, and most common errors noted are: error of omission, caused by pilots’ lack of attention or longer periods of no flying, and error of wrong execution, caused by misunderstanding a situation. Findings Hierarchical task analysis and classification of pilot’s tasks were used for the analysis of consequences, probability of occurrence, criticality and remedial strategies for the identified pilot error. Research limitations/implications This paper does not give an ergonomic analysis of the flight deck, as that is not its subject. However, results of the research presented in this paper, together with results presented in references, clearly show that there are disadvantages in the ergonomic design of flight decks. Practical implications Based on the identified pilot errors and with respect of existing ergonomic solution, it is possible to begin with the reconstruction of flight decks. Social implications Higher quality of pilot–flight deck interaction must be ensured for both pilots’ and passengers’ safety, as even a slightest error can lead to catastrophic consequences. Originality/value The value of this paper lies in the fact that it points to the need for synergy of ergonomic design and human reliability methods.