The Emperor’s New Clothes: Or Whatever Happened To “Human Error”?

Meeting/Conference Proceedings

The Emperor’s New Clothes: Or Whatever Happened To “Human Error”?

January 1, 2001

Hollnagel E, Amalberti R. Chapter In: Dekker SWA, ed. Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Human Error, Safety and Systems Development. Linköping Sweden: Linköping University; 2001.

This thought piece examines the problematic nature of the term “human error” from the semantic, philosophical, logical, and practice viewpoints. The authors suggest its use should be avoided and the focus on human performance variability and control be instead adopted.

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