Definition of human error

The term "human error" first appeared in the early 1960s as a concept in the field of industrial engineering and human factors psychology. At the time, engineers and psychologists were studying the causes of mistakes and accidents in the workplace to improve safety and efficiency. The term "human error" was coined to describe situations in which a human being made a mistake or committed an action that resulted in undesirable consequences. The phrase emphasized the idea that errors were not inherent in human nature, but rather the result of situational factors (such as inadequate training, instrumentation, or procedures) that could be identified and addressed to prevent similar errors in the future. The concept of human error quickly gained popularity as a way of explaining and managing errors in industries such as aviation, healthcare, and nuclear power, where safety was of paramount importance. Today, the notion of human error is deeply embedded in safety-critical domains, where it guides the development of systems, technologies, and procedures that are designed to minimize the risk of errors and mistakes.