Human Factors, often referred to as ergonomics, is an established scientific discipline used in many other safety critical industries. Human Factors approaches underpin current patient and resident safety, and quality improvement science, offering an integrated, evidenced and coherent approach to patient, resident safety, quality improvement and clinical excellence.

The principles and practices of Human Factors focus on optimising human performance through better understanding the behaviour of individuals, their interactions with each other and with their environment. By acknowledging human limitations, Human Factors offer ways to minimise and mitigate human frailties, so reducing error and its consequences.