Gemma Read

Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), also known as drones, are a rapidly emerging technology that is being quickly adopted in many civil and military applications. Although there are several benefits, a number of safety risks also exist. It is essential to take a proactive approach in designing broader sociotechnical safety systems that support the safe and optimal use of this technology. We used the Systems Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP) method to develop an optimal control structure needed to ensure safe and effective RPAS operations.

Technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) is prevalent in cases of intimate partner violence. This scoping review applied a systems ergonomics model, Rasmussen’s Risk Management Framework, as a novel approach to map the known factors that influence TFA in the context of intimate partner violence. The findings showed that the literature has focused on factors related to actors directly involved in TFA (e.g., perpetrators and victim-survivors) and that inadequate systemic responses influence the persistence of TFA. The utility of applying systems ergonomics to understand and address complex and pervasive social problems was demonstrated.

Road transport systems worldwide continue to create unacceptable levels of trauma. Currently, there are no widely adopted Human Factors Integration (HFI) guidelines specifically developed for road transport systems. This project outlines the development of a guideline to support the application of Ergonomics and Human Factors (EHF) knowledge, principles, and methods in the design and operation of road transport systems. Existing guidelines were reviewed, and a model for an optimal HFI guideline was developed using Work Domain Analysis with stakeholder input.

Rasmussen’s Risk Management Framework (RMF; Rasmussen, 1997) is arguably the most popular model of safety and risk within Ergonomics and Human Factors (EHF). However, the RMF was developed almost thirty years ago and there are questions regarding its suitability for contemporary systems and problems. In this presentation we outline and demonstrate a revised and extended RMF for contemporary sociotechnical systems.

Responding to identity theft incidents is complex however our current understanding of the response system is limited. This study applied a systems analysis with the aim of identifying the actors that share the responsibility for victim outcomes following identity theft incidents in Australia. The findings identify a diverse set of 60 actor types involved in the response process and emphasise the lack of a single ‘one-stop-shop’ point of contact for victims. Recommendations for improvement are suggested.

This systematic literature review identified peer-reviewed applications of systems HFE methods to determine the range of problems examined and how the methods have been applied. The review revealed a growth in applications of systems HFE methods over time. The review suggests that as problem and system complexity continue to intensify, continual evaluation and potential adaption of methods may be required, including using more than one method.

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are a rapidly developing technology with the potential for a wide range of applications, yet the technology and its possible risks are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to develop and analyse an abstraction hierarchy model of a hypothetical, advanced invasive BCI system lifecycle to identify potential design lifecycle risks. Ten subject matter experts participated in a workshop to validate a BCI lifecycle abstraction hierarchy, which was subsequently analysed using the Sociotechnical Systems-Design Toolkit (STS-DT) prompts. The analysis identified the system purpose of generating wealth for companies and shareholders conflicted with other system purposes relating to health and wellbeing. Findings also identified poorly supported system functions, such as the regulation of BCI technologies, and potentially unreliable system objects. In conclusion, it is recommended that the identified issues be addressed through a sociotechnical systems approach focusing on joint optimisation across the system.

Collisions at rail level crossings remain a pressing concern, with the influences on user behaviour a critical area of research. This paper reports the findings of an observational study of pedestrian and cyclist non-compliant behaviours at 10 rail level crossing sites in Australia. The findings illustrate the diversity in crossing designs and how these differences may influence behaviour. General recommendations are provided, alongside the need to consider context-specific risk controls.

There are concerns that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could pose an existential threat to humanity; however, as AGI does not yet exist it is difficult to prospectively identify risks and develop controls. In this article we describe the use of a many model systems Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) approach in which three methods were applied to identify risks in a future ‘envisioned world’ AGI-based uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) system. The findings demonstrate that there are many potential risks, but that the most critical arise not due to poor performance, but when the AGI attempts to achieve goals at the expense of other system values, or when the AGI becomes ‘super-intelligent’, and humans can no longer manage it.