2007 Q1 HUMAN ERROR

[cmcvea]

any feedback would be welcome, my first attempt at a Mod 7 q.

[PJW]

any feedback would be welcome, my first attempt at a Mod 7 q.

I am hoping that I might get a Human Factors specialist to give her thoughts on this question, but in the meantime I

[Jerry1237]

any feedback would be welcome, my first attempt at a Mod 7 q.

I would suggest you could expand the first violation section to include peer pressure to not follow the rule and poor training, hence not understanding the rule. (one other minor comment is we are compliant with or to rules, "compliance of" is non-sensical but I got what you meant all the same).

Perception. I would agree with description or example. Perception is a human action of translating information and converting it into an action. However, being human, we often mis-understand the meaning of the information presented. An example is a driver reading an aspect from the incorrect signal or use of non-approved words in communication being taken differently than the speaker's intention.

Wrongly executed. I think the description is basically understandable but "occasionally" is out of place here. Examples could be:
*/ driver pulling away at the right-away without checking the signal aspect;
*/ signaller pulling five points instead of six points;
*/ driver asuming the MAR aspect will clear because it always does and not slowing sufficiently despite approaching a red aspect
etc.

Inattention can be from necessary destractions as well as unnecessary as you've quoted. How about the signaller giving an all trains stop command so the driver misses the aspect. Weather, bright sun etc., can also lead to inattention just as much as personal issues and worries.


Signalling Design: Drivers are NOT the only people who use signalling and to whom the design directly affects. Think of signallers, maintainers, future designers. How about a frequently visited Loc with poor sighting, high line speeds and on the top of a very steep embankment... the driver wouldn't care but I bet you'd upset the LOM, maintainer, installers etc. I am not sure the question has actually been answered. For four marks, four bullets are suitable such as:
1) Violation: get driver input into the design and address comments raised especially around complex junctions;
2) Perception: get agreement on special indications being proposed and conduct trials to prove new equipment;
3) Wrongly Executed: ensure output is to standards, presented clearly with assumptions quoted;
4) Inattention: that design follows the signalling design process and is installed on site by competent staff and is checked.

Those are suggestions on the manner of how I would answer rather than being a model answer. I would be very impressed to see anyone write 1474 words in 30 minutes! Exam technique is everything in the IRSE Exam.

Generally, I thought it was a good answer to the question. With a little tweaking and condensing the answer, I would hope you would get a decent score from the examiners for this.

Jerry


I have since added a post with an attachment which attempts to give some background material useful in the context of Human Error in the Mod7 Special Topics section
PJW

[cmcvea]

[quote='cmcvea' pid='1997' dateline='1283462423']
any feedback would be welcome, my first attempt at a Mod 7 q.

I would suggest you could expand the first [violation] section to include peer pressure to not follow the rule and poor training, hence not understading the rule. (one other minor comment is we are compliant with or to rules, "compliance of" is non-sensical but I got what you meant all the same).

Perception. I would agree with description or example. Perception is a human action of translating information and converting it into an action. However, being human, we often mis-understand the meaning of the information presented. An example is a driver reading an aspect from the incorrect signal or use of non-approved words in communication being taken differently than the speaker's intention.

Wrongly executed. I think the description is basically understandable but "occassionally" is out of place here. Examples could be:
*/ pulling away at the right-away without checking the signal aspect;
*/ pulling five points instead of six points;
*/ Assuming the MAR aspect will clear because it always does and not slowing sufficiently despite approaching a red aspect
etc.

Inattention can be from necessary destractions as well as uncessary as you've quoted. How about the signaller giving an all trains stop command so the driver misses the aspect. Weather, bright sun etc., can also lead to inattention just as much as personal issues and worries.


Signalling Design: Drivers are NOT the only people who use signalling and to whom the design directly affects. Think of signallers, maintainers, future designers. How about a frequently visited Loc with poor sighting, high line speeds and on the top of a very steep embankment... the driver wouldn't care but I bet you'd upset the LOM, maintainer, installers etc. I am not sure the question has actually been answered. For four marks, four bullets are suitable such as:
1) Violation: get driver input into the design and address comments raised especially around complex junctions;
2) Perception: get agreement on special indications being proposed and conduct trials to prove new equipment;
3) Wrongly Executed: ensure output is to standards, presented clearly with assumptions quoted;
4) Inattention: that design follows the signalling design process and is installed on site by competent staff and is checked.

Those are suggestions on the manner of how I would answer rather than being a model answer. I would be very impressed to see anyone write 1474 words in 30 minutes! Exam technique is everything in the IRSE Exam.

Generally, I thought it was a good answer to the question. With a little tweaking and condensing the answer, I would hope you would get a decent score from the examiners for this.

Jerry



thanks for the feedback, its appreciated.

[Jerry1237]

You are welcome and please remember, the feedback to people's attempts may seem a little harsh at times but I believe a great deal of what we see on these boards is genuinely good. However, we all spend our entire lives improving... even us "more experienced" folks. Not that I am suggesting the mods are old...!

Jerry