Every incident that occurs has more to teach us. The events we see are only part of the picture. Understanding the human factors that influenced decisions and actions can unlock valuable insights. Human performance is influenced by many factors including:
- Communication and Teamwork
- Environmental Conditions
- Organisational Culture
- Procedures and Processes
- Tools and Equipment
- Workload and Competing Priorities
Understanding these influences provides valuable context when investigating incidents. Effective investigations do not stop at identifying what happened. They explore the conditions, decisions and interactions that contributed to the event, helping organisations better understand how and why work is performed in reality. This deeper understanding supports more informed decision making and continuous improvement. A clear understanding of contributing human factors enables organisations to:
- Develop Targeted Interventions
- Drive Continuous Improvement
- Share Lessons Learned Effectively
- Strengthen Operational Resilience
- Support Consistent Performance
The goal is not simply to investigate incidents, but to maximise the value of the learning they provide.
According to Aidan Henderson, a Senior Human Factors Consultant at IHF:
“The true value in considering human factors in incident investigation comes from helping to ensure accidents never happen again. Time spent on investigation may seem like an expense, but how much do incidents cost you?“
Aidan visited WGM Engineering in Glasgow, Scotland on the 4th of February 2026 as part of enhancing their current incident investigation procedure and embedding a structured human behaviour assessment framework. IHF is providing ongoing support to WGM Engineering teams in relation to their incident investigation processes that includes the implementation of IHF SaaS HF-AIR software.
Overall, looking beyond events to explore the human, organisational and system factors involved can unlock valuable learning and support lasting improvement.
