3.3 Human Factors that Influence Behaviour at Work

Question 1

What is being described below:

refer to environmental, organisational and job factors, and human and individual characteristics which influence behaviour at work in a way which can affect health and safety.”

Answer 1

Human factors

Question 2

A simple way to view human factors is to think about three aspects:

Answer 2

the individual
the job
the organisation

and how they impact on people’s health and safety-related behaviour.

Question 3

What is being described below:

ensuring a good ‘match’ between people and the things they use. People vary enormously in many ways including: height and weight; physical strength
ability to handle information.

produce equipment that most people can operate
comfortably, conveniently and safely; and to design tasks to reduce human error,
accidents and ill health.

Answer 3

Ergonomics

Question 4

Individual Differences

Physical attributes and
characteristics

Answer 4

  Gender 
  Age 
  Physical abilities 
  Physique 
  Health state

Question 5

Individual Differences

Psychological
characteristics

Answer 5

  Personality traits 
  Motivation 
  Attitudes 
  Perceptions 
  Mental abilities

Question 6

Individual Differences

Socio-cultural factors

Answer 6

  Family background 
  Religion 
  Socio economic status 
  Education 
  Peer pressure and work 
culture

Question 7

Identify individual factors that might cause an employee to deviate from a safe system of work. (8)

Answer 7

lack of knowledge and understanding 
attitude
motivation 
poor perception of risk 
personal problems 
sensory defects
language barrier 
stress