IEH Ergonomics and Human Factors Tool

Human Factors in Risk Assessment Checklist

Use this practical checklist to review whether your workplace risk assessment has properly considered human factors, including task design, worker involvement, foreseeable human error, workload, fatigue, competence, communication, supervision and organisational pressures.

Start Checklist View References

What this tool helps you check

  • Whether the RA reflects work as actually done
  • Whether foreseeable human failures have been considered
  • Whether the task design supports safe performance
  • Whether controls rely too much on training, supervision or PPE
  • Whether workload, fatigue, communication and organisational factors are adequately managed
Screening Approach

A practical human factors layer for workplace risk assessment

This tool does not replace a formal WSH risk assessment. It helps organisations review whether human factors have been considered as part of the risk assessment process, especially for safety-critical, non-routine, high-workload or error-sensitive tasks.

1. Review the RA context

Enter the activity, work area, task type, risk level and whether the task is safety-critical or non-routine.

2. Complete the checklist

Answer each question as Yes, Partial, No or Not Applicable to identify human factors gaps.

3. Generate a summary

Review the gap score, priority flags, weak sections and suggested actions, then print or save the result.

Checklist Form

Complete the human factors risk assessment review

Where possible, complete this with input from workers, supervisors, maintenance personnel, contractors and others who understand the actual task. The checklist is most useful when combined with site observation.

Risk assessment information

Provide basic information about the RA, task or work activity being reviewed.

Scoring guide:
Yes = 0 concern. Partial / uncertain = 1 concern. No = 2 concerns. Not applicable = excluded from scoring. A higher percentage means more human factors gaps may be present in the current risk assessment.
Please complete the checklist before calculating.
Some questions are still marked as “Select answer”. Please choose Yes, Partial / uncertain, No or Not applicable for each checklist question.
References

Reference basis used for this checklist

This checklist is informed by Singapore workplace risk management guidance and recognised human factors guidance. It should be used to support, not replace, formal legal and professional risk assessment duties.

MOM Risk Management

MOM describes workplace risk management as the process of identifying, evaluating and controlling risks at the workplace.

View MOM risk management guidance

WSH Council Code of Practice on WSH Risk Management

The Code of Practice provides guidance on implementing risk management under Singapore’s WSH framework.

View WSH Risk Management Code of Practice

WSH Risk Management Regulations

Singapore Statutes Online provides the Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations.

View WSH Risk Management Regulations

HSE Introduction to Human Factors

HSE describes human factors as environmental, organisational, job and individual factors that influence behaviour at work.

View HSE human factors introduction

HSE Managing Human Failures

HSE guidance discusses human failures and warns against assuming people will always follow procedures or perform perfectly.

View HSE human failures guidance

HSE Human Factors in Risk Assessment

HSE explains that human factors in risk assessment should be proportionate to the organisation’s hazard and risk profile.

View HSE human factors risk assessment guidance

HSE Workload

HSE notes that workload assessment may be needed to determine staffing, capacity for additional tasks or ability to cope with emergencies.

View HSE workload guidance

HSE Fatigue

HSE guidance highlights fatigue and shift work as important human factors issues that can affect safe performance.

View HSE fatigue guidance
Disclaimer: This checklist is intended as a preliminary human factors screening guide to support, not replace, a formal workplace risk assessment. It does not replace the duties of employers, occupiers, principals or other duty holders under applicable WSH legislation and regulations. For high-risk, complex or safety-critical work activities, organisations should seek professional advice from a competent safety, ergonomics or human factors practitioner.

Need support reviewing human factors in your risk assessment?

IEH can support organisations with human factors review, task observation, worker interviews, risk assessment review, procedure usability review, human error analysis and practical recommendations to improve safe work performance.

Contact IEH