Safety & Human Factors Engineering

Safety research related to occupational accident prevention attempts to identify hazards in the environment which can, under certain circumstances, lead to accidents. Historically, an accident investigation of a past accident was the primary method used to prevent future accidents from occurring.

Currently, accidents are considered to be “unplanned events.” Once a hazard or type of hazard is identified through recognized hazard identification techniques such as job safety analysis, system safety analysis, subsystem safety analysis, failure modes and effect analysis, etc., then accident prevention techniques can be applied to eliminate the hazard or reduce the possibility of a recognized hazard causing an accident. Recognized methods of accident prevention are commonly addressed in safety standards and literature.

Human factors engineering is a science which combines engineering and psychology to design and/or provide people with safe and efficient living and working conditions. Knowledge of human psychological and physiological capabilities and the use of scientific methodology provide details necessary to evaluate product systems and the user's ability to perceive and interact with the existing environment. In addition, human factors engineering is a science involved with the study of human characteristics in applied settings, which combines the disciplines of anthropometry, physiology, psychology, and engineering to design and/or provide people with safe and efficient living and working conditions. For example, human factors engineers analyze what people are capable of or tend to do in certain circumstances based on their psychological and physiological capabilities. Areas in which safety and human factors engineering principles and practices are applied are:

 

Stanley D. Pulz, C.S.P., P.E.Stanley D. Pulz, C.S.P, P.E.

Mr. Pulz is a Registered Professional Engineer (safety), Certified Safety Professional, and Master’s Level Psychologist specializing in technical aspects of applied human factors engineering and safety. For over 25 years, both as a corporate safety director and private consultant, Mr. Pulz has provided a variety of organizations, including private industry, governmental organizations, and the legal and insurance community with technical assistance on safety and human factors engineering issues. In addition, Mr. Pulz serves as a member of numerous national consensus standard committees including: ANSI A-10 Committee on Safety Requirements for Construction and Demolition; chairperson for the ANSI A-10.39 Subcommittee on Safety Audit Procedures; ANSI A10.1 - Planning for Construction Safety and Health; ANSI A-10.2 Subcommittee on Standard for Safety, Health, and Environmental Training; ANSI A10.40 - Reduction of Musculoskeletal Problems in Construction; ANSI A10.41 - Equipment Operator and Supervisors Qualifications and Responsibilities; ASTM E34.30 - Occupational Health and Safety in Construction; ASTM Committee No. E-34 on Occupational Health and Safety; ASTM Subcommittee E34.85 on Ergonomics. As an Accredited Occupational Safety and Health Instructor for CONSTRUCTION SAFETY through the U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA), Mr. Pulz has taught Accredited OSHA Safety courses through The National Resource Center for OSHA Training under a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. In addition, Mr. Pulz has been an instructor in human factors and safety at the Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville, Maryland and numerous safety topics for the National Safety Council and the Safety Council of Maryland.

Curriculum Vitae >
stan@spainco.com
www.spainco.com
410-789-5888

 

 

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