This article is written by Richard Bosman of the Global Network of Companies (GNC). With over 30 years of experience, GNC specializes in safety-focused training solutions for high-risk industries, including Aviation, Oil & Gas, Mining, Nuclear, Maritime, and HSE.
Human Factor Training has been a game changer in high-risk industries, forming the cornerstone of aviation safety programs for more than 40 years. By helping workers recognize and avoid common human mistakes, this training has significantly reduced incidents, as documented by aviation authorities worldwide.
Bridging the gap in safety training across other high-risk industries
In many industries outside of aviation, Human Factor Training isn't mandatory, so organizations often rely on compliance-based safety programs. While these meet basic requirements, they may overlook the everyday behaviors and decisions that lead to serious incidents. Human Factor Training addresses those gaps by empowering employees to anticipate, avoid, and respond to risks before they escalate. It's a proactive investment in building a safer, more resilient workplace.
Other high-risk industries that benefit from Human Factor Training include: Oil & Gas, Construction, Manufacturing, Nuclear, and other services involving significant danger to their employees and the environment.
A closer look at Human Factor Training
It's all about understanding how people work, think, and interact with their surroundings on the job and individual Mind State Management regarding personal and team safety. In high-risk industries, it helps identify and prevent the kinds of mistakes or miscommunications that can lead to serious accidents due to human error.
Human Factor Training vs. safety training
Safety training teaches you the dos and don'ts—how to use equipment correctly or follow the right steps to avoid accidents. Human Factor Training digs into why people sometimes make mistakes, including fatigue, stress, distractions, poor communication, as well as vital behaviors like situational awareness and decision-making under pressure.
Human Factor Training helps people understand how their actions and mindset affect safety, so they can make better choices on the job.
Common risks employees face in high-risk environments
- Physical injuries: Falls, explosions, heavy machinery accidents
- Exposure: Harmful chemicals, dust, radiation
- Mental and emotional stress: High-pressure tasks, long hours, hazardous conditions
- Human error: Miscommunication, distraction, poor decision-making
Key takeaways from Human Factor Training
- Insights into how stress, fatigue, and distractions affect human performance
- Communication and teamwork skills to prevent misunderstandings
- Stronger situational awareness on the job
- Understanding the consequences of human error—and how to avoid, mitigate, and design processes and policies to prevent it from recurring
- Tools for making good decisions when it matters
- Techniques to put non-work-related concerns behind you when entering the workplace.
Why Human Factor Training matters
Safety isn't optional. To foster a stronger safety culture, everyone should be aware of potential risks and their role in ensuring a safer working environment for all. This also builds safer working habits, stronger teamwork, and a more aware, safety-focused culture.
What L&D teams need to know
By understanding the potential dangers and their individual actions inherent with any dangerous task or environment, individuals are able to preempt their actions to ensure incidents and events are avoided as much as possible. In addition, they have a better understanding of what to do in the event of a dangerous situation.
Start implementing Human Factor Training today
Build a safer, more aware workforce—before the next incident happens. Explore Human Factor Training courses from GNC to get started.
About the author
Richard Bosman has been an instructor across a variety of safety-related subjects for the past 8 years, including Human Factor Training for high-risk environments such as Nuclear, Oil & Gas, Construction, Mining, and more. Our team has been responsible for the creation of over 130 online courses that are developed in line with regulatory standards, and we take great pride in delivering interactive, visually appealing course material that engages our audience.
