Human-error is a systematic classification of error modes attributed to human operators within engineered or organizational systems. Its parameters distinguish between active failures (slips, lapses, mistakes, violations) and latent conditions (organizational decisions, inadequate training, poor design) that together produce failure chains. The concept persists through taxonomic frameworks (Reason model, HFACS), human-factors engineering practices, safety management systems, and post-incident analysis protocols that categorize and learn from human contributions to system breakdowns. [formal: error_humana | substrate: mind | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
human-error
Human-error is a systematic classification of error modes attributed to human operators within engineered or organizational systems. Its parameters distinguish between active failures (slips, lapses, mistakes, violations) and latent condit…
Definition
Why it is in scope
Human-error is a human-made classification concept in safety engineering, reliability studies, and organizational psychology — a framework for categorizing the ways human actions, omissions, or decisions contribute to system failures. It persists through standardized taxonomies (e.g., Reason's Swiss cheese model, HFACS), training protocols, and incident analysis methodologies built to prevent recurrent failures.
Names and aliases
- human-erroren · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmruf04x1013cr671g8zou4lnINSTANCE_OF →
Human-error is a specific type of error — a classification concept for errors attributable to human operators within engineered systems. A competent speaker would call it a kind of error. Nearest kind is 'error' which is already established.
- cms8hphzu00x273fksd6ax3c2DERIVED_FROM →
The formal study of human error as a concept emerged from human factors engineering. Human factors research (beginning in the mid-20th century) developed the taxonomy and analysis methods that constitute human error theory. Human factors predates and fed into human error as a distinct conceptual category.
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Record identity
- Created
- Aug 7, 2026, 9:05 PM UTC
- Content hash
- ebca087f5658c222b2d48aa74166392ff403b577aa37d7e852c5c81a0fdf14d6