Posted By Kieran J Duignan Denise 'Human factors' is a term commonly used for the interdisciplinary fields of 'cognitive' and organisational' ergonomics, especially in the USA; as it provides a worker-centred framework for assessing risks, it can provide an extensive framework for pinpointing sources of hazards. Behavioural safety applies cogntive and social psychology to measured systems of feedback on risk management behaviour where hazards can be reliably measured (as compared to psychological hazards or sources of error, which are inferred). Since 'human factors' and 'behavioural safety' are quite distinct approaches to safety management, any half-day course that aims to combine them may be more entertaining than reliable.

Posted By Kieran J Duignan In relation to Merv's observations, his comment on my comment illustrates the difficulty about most ergonomics publications: they're largely written for small communities of specialists (and subgroups within the HF/Ergs fraternity). If only Merv's recommendationi that Ergs should be incorporated within BS held true... As far as I can establish, the division arises from outdated larger academic divisions between (Ergs and Occupational Psychology on the one hand, and Safety and Occupational Psychology on the other, which make it v. difficult to qualify across all 3 areas now). Anyway, he has stimulated me to go out to the garden to scan my library shed for titles The best is probably 'Ergonomics, Work and Health' by S Pheasant, Macmillan, 1991; a physiologist/ergonomist, Steve wrote exceptionally well and was world-renowned at the time of his death in 1996. 'Ergonomics for Beginners. A Quick Reference Guide', J Dul and B Weerdmeester, Taylor & Francis, 1993 is a short introduction to the key concepts; a more recent edition may offer more about the impact of computing on ergs in lots of workplaces. 'Evaluation of Human Work. A Practical Ergonomics Methodology' J R Wilson and E N Corlett, 1990 Taylor & Francis. 2nd edition. contains 38 technical essays by leading British ergonomists (including Pheasant), with lots of material on manufacturing and about 10 on safety and health at work. I also enjoy E Scott Geller's well researched, cartoon-illustrated books on BS and 'Total Safety Culture': 'Working Safe', Lewis Publishers, 2001, 2nd edition 'The Psychology of Safety Handbook', Lewis Publishers, 2001 While Scott Geller encourages ergonomics, none of the ergonomists refer to BS. I think they're all still available from Amazon, from whom I bought them

Posted By Stephen P Denise, When I was doing my Diploma, we had some sessions on this that I remember being very interesting. The course leader was a chap called Dave Williams who last I heard was leading the department at Liverpool Hope University. If I remember rightly it was Daves wife who took the HF / BS part of the course. It might be worth a call.

Posted By Linda Crossland-Clarke Hi I can recommend a couple of people who have delivered to the nuclear and petrochemical sectors. They focus on "behaviour modification" by looking at key safe behaviours of the organisation, and focusing on "soon, certain & positive" feedback. Email me direct if you wish me to pass on their details. Regards. Linda.