Inimfaktori

Inimfaktori, Estonian term for human factors, refers to the study of how human abilities, limitations, and behavior affect the design, operation, and safety of complex systems. The field aims to optimize performance and reduce risk by accounting for human needs throughout the life cycle of products and processes.

Core domains include ergonomics, cognitive engineering, human–computer interaction, and safety science. Key components are cognitive factors (perception, attention, memory, decision-making), physical factors (strength, dexterity, vision), and organizational factors (teamwork, communication, workload, culture).

Typical concerns are human error, workload, fatigue, stress, situation awareness, and training requirements. Understanding these factors helps in designing interfaces, procedures, and environments that are easier to use and less prone to error.

Common methods include task analysis, usability testing, cognitive walkthroughs, and risk assessment such as human reliability analysis. Design approaches emphasize user-centered design, standardization, checklists, and feedback loops to improve safety and efficiency.

Applications span aviation, healthcare, industrial control, transportation, software development, and consumer products. Examples include cockpit interface redesigns to reduce pilot error, improved hospital handoffs with standardized communication, and ergonomic office layouts to prevent injuries.

Within safety culture, inimfaktori promotes viewing errors as system problems rather than individual failings, consistent with models such as the Swiss cheese model. The field has evolved from early ergonomics toward integrated design that balances performance, usability, and safety.