"Error Precursors are unfavorable prior conditions at the job site that increase the probability for error during a specific action; that is, error-likely situations.”
From The Department of Energy (DOE) Human Performance Handbook, Volume 1 of 2, p.23 of 75 in the PDF.
When an incident occurs, many leaders ask, “What Error Precursors contributed to this incident?”
I used to ask this question when I helped investigate incidents.
I used to believe that the concept of Error Precursors was a good one.
I used to think that the list of Error Precursors from the DOE Handbook (pp.65-73 in he PDF) was practical.
Not anymore.
Why not?
And what do I teach instead?
Watch the 4-minute video below to find out... and to get a practical solution you can apply immediately.
Highlights include:
What's wrong with Precursors -- 00:21
How to fix it -- 02:07
An example of how an electric utility switching team could apply the solution -- 03:26
Also, this...
"A Postcursor Video by Dr. Jake Mazulewicz, JMA Human Reliability Strategies (www.reliableorg.com/resources) was the inspiration for the EFCOG Human Performance Improvement Task Group (HPI TG) to have a conversation about Error Precursors."
From Asking Better Error Precursor Questions for Effective Job Planning, Pre-Job Briefs, and Event Investigations." a white paper published by the US Department of Energy's EFCOG Human Performance Task Team. December 2020. p.5.