Human and Organizational Factors in Complex Systems
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 17710
Special Issue Editors
Interests: human reliability; quantitative risk assessment; hazard identification; risk management; accident analysis; process safety; oil and gas industry; offshore installations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The study of human and organizational factors is extremely important for improving the safety of complex socio-technical systems. Unlike technical subsystems, for which the chance of failure can be calculated, the reason why human error can occur cannot be studied only through the analysis of statistical distributions, as humans and equipment may compose a single joint cognitive system. The human factor is undeniably a critical element in risk assessment since it denotes the human contribution to risk. On the other hand, organizational factors have been gaining ground in recent years due to their important influence on effective risk management, accident prevention and emergency responses.
All of the above are undeniably critical, and the fact that they are rarely included in safety analysis can hinder accurate processes for assessing the safety of complex systems and infrastructures.
In the notion of complex systems, all systems that include human–machine interactions are included (e.g., the control rooms of industrial or power plants, tunnels or ships). In a complex system, the interaction between human operators and technical systems is considered perpetual. It is the combined availability, reliability and efficiency of such systems that determine their performance and, consequently, their safety.
This Special Issue on “Human and Organizational Factors in Complex Systems” aims to explore and bring out recent developments, new methods, tools and/or application examples (case studies) regarding human and organizational factors in different sectors such as (but not limited to):
- The chemical industry;
- The processing industry, including oil and gas as well as offshore installations;
- The nuclear industry;
- Manufacturing;
- Road transport;
- Rail transport;
- Aviation;
- Maritime transport;
- Accident analysis;
- Emergency responses;
- Risk management;
- Critical situations.
High-quality contributions addressing related theoretical and practical aspects are therefore welcomed.
Dr. Myrto Konstantinidou
Dr. Michalis Christou
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- human reliability
- process industry
- manufacturing
- nuclear industry
- transport
- accidents
- emergency response
- risk management
- risk assessment
- safety analysis
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