INGENIEUR
INGENIEUR
HFE Key Elements
Description
People
Work
The characteristics , capabilities , expectations , limitations , experiences and needs of the people who will operate , maintain , support and use the facilities .
The nature of the work involved in operating , maintaining and supporting the facility .
Organisation How the people are organised , in terms of , for example , team structures , responsibilities , working hours and shift schedules .
Equipment
Environment
Table 1 : Five Key HFE Elements by IOGP
The equipment and technology used , including the way equipment is laid out , and the elements that people need to interact with , both physically and mentally .
The work environment in which people are expected to work , including the climate , lighting , noise , vibration and exposure to other health hazards .
industry , mainly contributed by the challenging nature of fields , demands for efficiency , while remote operations and new technologies make it crucial to continuously manage and assess the role of HF throughout the lifecycle of the facility [ 3 ]. This article provides some insights into the current state of HFE implementation in the O & G industry in Malaysia . It discusses the gaps in understanding and implementation of HFE in various project phases , particularly in the offshore sector where there is lack of alignment in HFE activities . Here , we intend to promote a framework that looks toward optimal resource utilisation and cohesive application of HFE in the engineering design process and operations phase . We hope that the future development of facilities in Malaysia will indeed consider the recommended framework and improve HFE integration during project execution .
BACKGROUND ON HUMAN FACTORS
Since its inception , HF has utilised a multidisciplinary approach which has evolved over time , shifting focus from the physical to biological fit . Information technology has enabled enhancement of human cognitive capabilities , which may even possibly involve gene manipulation in the future [ 4 ]. The changing work environment and rapidly evolving demands pose challenges to HF implementation despite the vast amounts of information available today . Therefore , a holistic approach is recommended whereby employing a resilient system and considering “ work as done ” rather than “ work to be done ” [ 5 ]. System HF ( refer to Figure 1 ) is one such model which captures the complexity of a system , human roles , function and tasks and is directly applicable to any work systems involving people , equipment and organisation , including the O & G industry [ 6 ].
As technology advances , the definition and scope of HF has broadened over the years . However , the Malaysian O & G industry , along with other process industries , are still falling behind other critical sectors such as aviation . In addition , the limited understanding of human errors and the nature of such insufficiency is aggravating the issue , as attention to process safety and physical ergonomics during facilities development should be better .
HFE NORMS USED IN THE MALAYSIAN OFFSHORE O & G INDUSTRY
The O & G industry has prioritised workplace safety through the implementation of HFE , a discipline that originated from the high-risk offshore and naval sectors . Over time , global knowledge and experience were gained in HFE , leading to the creation of technical standards and guiding documents to mitigate human errors and enhance safety .
In the past , appraisals were conducted to establish the availability of HFE guidance documents in the oil and gas sector , leading to this article that aims to present a comprehensive overview of the established HFE norms in the O & G industry [ 7 , 8 ]. This includes
28 VOL 96 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2023