Citation

de la Garza C, Weill-Fassina A, Kaplan M. Cogn. Technol. Work 2008; 10(1): 61-68.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10111-007-0078-8

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

According to European Directives, it would be necessary to develop freight interoperability, defined as crossing borders from one country to another without changing either locomotive or driving crew. This project is a challenge for the railway companies that control infrastructures and traffic. The interoperability implementation implies changes in work techniques, regulation and organisation, that may affect the reliability of the systems involved, giving rise to risky situations in terms of production, regularity and safety. The purpose of this paper is to describe a proactive ergonomic approach used for the integration of human factors and safety at the early stages of design for future interoperable situations. Ergonomic analysis has been oriented within a socio-technical frame where a workstation is viewed in its technical and organisational dimensions. Three methods have been used: observations in marshalling yards and driving cabin in other countries, staff interviews and analyses of incidents and hazards. Results formed the basis for developing "a methodological guide for integrating human factors". In a more general way, some principles for an ecological design of a safe organisational system are provided in the last section of this paper.

Language: en