Purpose:
This practical introductory session provides a clear and accessible grounding in Human Factors and Ergonomics. It helps participants understand why people do what they do at work, why systems can still fail even when staff are committed and capable, and how safer systems can be designed to support good performance. The session introduces key ideas in human performance, error, bias, teamwork, culture, and design, creating a strong foundation for patient safety, quality, reliability, and improvement work.
Why this course matters to organisations
This course helps teams build a shared language for discussing safety, performance, and risk. It supports a shift away from over-reliance on individual vigilance and towards practical thinking about systems, conditions, and design. It is particularly useful for organisations seeking a foundation that can underpin wider PSIRF, improvement, governance, and safety training.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
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Explain core Human Factors concepts in plain language and describe why they matter for safety and performance
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Identify common factors that influence performance in their own work setting
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Recognise how error, bias, and decision-making shape outcomes
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Use a simple systems lens to discuss incidents and everyday work
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Describe practical design and control options that improve the likelihood of safer, more reliable care
Format and duration
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Duration: 1 day / 6 hours
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Delivery: Face-to-face or live online, using short exercises, facilitated discussion, and case studies
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CPD: Equivalent to 6 CPD points.
Tailoring and follow-up
For in-house delivery, examples and discussion can be tailored to the organisation’s clinical context, service pressures, and improvement priorities. Participants receive a certificate of completion and are offered a 30-minute post-session support call for advice on applying Human Factors in practice.
Intended audience
Suitable for staff and teams who want a clear introduction to Human Factors, with no prior knowledge required. It works well for mixed groups, including frontline staff, supervisors, team leaders, managers, improvement leads, and staff working in safety, quality, or risk roles.
Topics covered
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Historical events and case examples that illustrate the importance of Human Factors
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Systems approaches to safety, including Safety-I and Safety-II
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Types of error and why they occur
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Performance-influencing factors in everyday work
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Cognition, heuristics, and decision-making
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Just culture, learning culture, reporting culture, and authority gradients
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Group decision-making and the value of collective insight
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Hierarchy of controls and designing work for success rather than relying on perfect performance
Introduction To Human Factors
Foundation course for staff who are new to Human Factors, systems thinking, and patient safety improvement.