Medical applications of industrial safety science.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T W van der Schaaf.
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Based on experiences from case studies, some preliminary thoughts are presented regarding the why and how of developing a cognitive task typology model. Three different practical functions of such a typology are outlined: comparison, prediction, and design. These functions can be applied to sets of tasks both in the same and in different task worlds (e.g. artificial/laboratory tasks vs. real-life/case study tasks). Several existing techniques may be suitable for this purpose: hierarchical task analysis, verbal protocols, and the use of elementary cognitive modules. Finally two partly overlapping approaches to identify relevant task dimensions for a typology are outlined: one based on a macro-ergonomic view of human-machine systems, and the other centred around the cognitive concept of an operator's mental model of the task. In the Discussion a bottom-up strategy for typology development is advocated, and the relationship with task complexity is noted.
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A field study was performed in a hospital pharmacy aimed at identifying positive and negative influences on the process of detection of and further recovery from initial errors or other failures, thus avoiding negative consequences. Confidential reports and follow-up interviews provided data on 31 near-miss incidents involving such recovery processes. Analysis revealed that organizational culture with regard to following procedures needed reinforcement, that some procedures could be improved, that building in extra checks was worthwhile and that supporting unplanned recovery was essential for problems not covered by procedures. Guidance is given on how performance in recovery could be measured. A case is made for supporting recovery as an addition to prevention-based safety methods.