Evaluation of human error using human error assessment and reduction technique (HEART) based on fuzzy logic (Case study: gas power plant

In complex systems, human error has always been identified as an effective factor in most accidents. In the power plant industry, various accidents occur due to human error and while affecting the stability of the country's electricity network, it can cause financial and human losses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the human error of the personnel operating a V94.2 gas power plant using the fuzzy HEART technique.

This cross-sectional study was performed on gas plant operation personnel. In this study, the probability of human error was calculated using fuzzy logic in the HEART technique. Then, the technique was performed in 7 stages. The steps include identifying the system / process, then identifying the existing tasks, assigning the nominal probability of human error, identifying the error-increasing conditions, then estimating the impact ratio, quantifying the human error potential, and in the seventh stage control measures. Finally, the HEART method was improved using fuzzy logic.

In this study, a total of 13 tasks and 119 sub-tasks were obtained. The 24 tasks had a high probability of final human error (HEPF), which is 20% of the total tasks evaluated. The probability of final human error was calculated to be 7.213. Most tasks were in Group D (relatively simple task) general classification of HEART tasks. In more than 98% of the tasks, "insufficient checking" was considered as one of the error-enhancing conditions and had the highest repetition among the error-enhancing conditions. Among all the activities, "Checking the openness of the internal power supply's disconnector" had the highest probability of human error. In 22 tasks out of 24 tasks with a higher probability of human error, training and justification of the operator or shift engineer has been suggested as control solutions.

The results obtained in this study showed that training in performing tasks is necessary to reduce the possibility of human error. Also, for tasks with a high probability of human error, retraining and justification of operators and paying attention to work instructions and using work rotation tools can be considered as the most important measures to prevent human error.