Human Factors within practice part 3: Task & patient safety with Jim Walmsley

In this conversation we will examine the fundamentals of human
factors within tasks with Jim Walmsley. We will focus on
Human factors from a task perspective refer to the ways in which
the design of a task or activity can affect the safety and
performance of the individuals performing it. We will examine
the concept of task complexity, task variability, task
duration and demands, feedback mechanisms in place to learn from,
clearly defined goals, and finally task design. We will also
discuss some of the mitigation factors involved in environmental
design, training and skill development, task analysis to error
trap, and teamwork and communication.  


To do this I have Jim Walmsley with me, Jim is a specialist
paramedic in critical care. He has led expeditions for various
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in and around Europe since
1996, and in 2001 he obtained his carnet as an International
Mountain Leader, alongside additional outdoor qualifications in
climbing, kayaking, and the rope access industry. As a qualified
Critical Care Paramedic, he’s spent the last nineteen years
specialising in pre-hospital critical care, after initially
training and working in Sheffield. Having completed an MSc in
clinical research and a PgDip in critical care, he now resides
the Southeast of England. In the conversation we examine:


·      What is human factors from
Jim’s perspectives 


·      How task human factors have
affected Jim in the past - A case that is seminal and typifies
the importance of human factors 


·      The classic offenders
- unfamiliarity with the task, inexperience, a shortage of
time, inadequate checking, poor procedures.


·      Task complexity &
variability 


·      Task duration and
demands. 


·      Feedback mechanisms in
practice 


·      Defined and clear goal
setting 


·      Design flow to
mitigate 


·      Training skill and
development 


·      Task analysis to error
trap 


·      Teamwork and comms 





I hope you enjoy this final episode in the series on human
factors within practice.