Human Error Assessment in City Gate Stations of Isfahan Natural Gas Company Using the System for Predictive Error Analysis and Reduction Framework

Human factor analysis has been identified as the most common cause of accidents in natural gas transportation and distribution facilities. The occurrence of accidents at these systems, especially gas reduction stations located in residential and industrial areas, has had catastrophic consequences. Therefore, this study aimed at analyzing critical tasks and human error assessment using the system for predictive error analysis and reduction (SPEAR) method and providing the appropriate framework for error management in the operation and maintenance of city gate stations.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using the SPEAR framework and safety critical task analysis guideline to evaluate errors in gas pressure reduction stations. First, critical tasks were screened and evaluated, followed by performing task analysis by the hierarchical task analysis and detecting performance-influencing factors (PIF). Then, human errors were predicted and assessed based on the predictive human error analysis. Finally, error management was developed at three process, equipment, and training improvement levels.

In general, out of 23 operations and 164 sub-tasks, 12 critical tasks were identified based on the results. Criticality level percentages were about 67% high risk, 25% moderate, and 8% low risk. In addition, 134 errors were identified which were mostly related to action (42.53%) and checking (39.55%) errors, respectively. Eventually, communication, retrieval, and selection errors were 8.96, 5.22, and 3.74%, respectively.

The results revealed that action and checking errors had the highest percentages. This method can be applied to appropriate the systems approach to error reduction using the PIF assessment output. The privilege affecting factors include preparing standard operation procedures, implementing a comprehensive training program, and controlling environmental hazards.