This outline proposes using human factors engineering (HFE) to reduce medication administration errors by nurses. The introduction explains that the project will analyze errors at the author's workplace to identify root causes, such as interruptions and a lack of standard processes. Potential HFE countermeasures include standardizing work, using visual cues, and electronic verification. The conclusion will assess how well the countermeasures reduced errors.

1. NB: Please note the term "Problem Statement." This assignment is to identify
and solve an HFE problem in your workplace. Follow standard quality
improvement problem-solving guidelines - which start with a well defined
problem.
If it looks like PDSA - you are probably close.
Sample from previous semester:
Title: Countermeasures for Pack Station Pains
Introduction & Problem Statement
Developing HFE countermeasures to alleviate human discomfort and efficiency in pack
stations within the warehouse.
Background
Brief history of general pack station set up
Basic requirements
A look around the globe
Analysis
Where are the pains?
EHS information in support of changes needed
Table
Location
Height
Depth
Equipment
Placement
Usage
Supplies
Placement
Storage
Availability
Product
Placement
Weight
Movement
Individual needs versus consistency of stations
Potential HFE Countermeasures
Manipulate pack station area
Determine suitable table configuration
Correct equipment placement for optimal usage
Enable quick availability for supplies
Promote proper handling of larger products
Conclusion
Clearly, there can be no conclusion as yet

2. Your final project paper will have a conclusion -- but as of now -- no jumping to
conclusions.
Page 1 – Title PageTopic / TITLE:
Mitigating Repetitive Motion Injury (RMI) on the wrist caused by a Fitting Driver
Page 3 – Introduction (Background / Problem Statement)
Description of the process in question or the affected process (Fitting Installation Process)
What are the detailed steps involved
How is the process considered an HFE issue
A specific description of how a fitting driver or the process become an HFE problem
Analysis (5Ms & E Approach):
Man: is the operator trained or qualified on performing fitting installation?
Machine: is the fitting driver ergonomically designed? Is it operator friendly?
Method: is the current fitting installation method optimized? Is there a written procedure on this process (work
instructions, standard operating procedures, etc.)?
Material: what are the materials involved in the process that can contribute to the problem?
Measurement: Is the fitting driver’s torque specification optimized? Is there a measurement system in place to
monitor fitting driver’s spinning torque?
Environment: is the work station lay-out/design optimized? (Table height, width, etc.) How do the issues in each
process components (5Ms & E) related or associated with RMI?
Possible HFE countermeasure or intervention:
Training, operator qualification/certification on performing fitting installation
Fitting driver design modification (fixtures, motor, etc.)
Job rotation of operators in a shift (currently: none; at least every 4 hours or even every hour)
Implement stretching exercises during or after breaks
Change work station lay-out (5S, etc.)
Create process work instructions that includes Dos & DONTs
Investigate on the possibility of lowering the fitting driver spin torque setting
JB
Page 1: Title Page
Preventing and alleviating neck discomforts and injuries from sustained microscope use
Page 2: Abstract:
Short summary of project and findings
Page 3-15: Body
Introduction:
o Discuss problem: Neck injures form sustained microscope use
o State why this is a HFE problem and how I plan on addressing the problem
o Discuss literature that supports the problem and connect to the problem at hand
o Talk about HFE approaches to fix and/or lesson the problem
Methods (may include diagrams and other visual aids)
o Environment:
o Body position in relation to microscope
o Table height
o Chair adjustability
o Work area
o Microscope
o functions
o adjustability
o lighting
o Other contributing laboratory equipment or tools
o Operator Brakes
o Are there enough/not enough brakes taken

3. o Stretches that counter sustained neck/body position from microscope use
o Countermeasures
o Actions taken to better HFE conditions
o Etc. (all other relevant information/actions)
Results
o summary of results from methods
o what relevant/irrelevant HFE changes were made
Discussion/conclusion
o HFE Findings/improvements to work environment
o Future improvements and perspectives
o Conclusion
Page 16: References
Cara
PRELIMINARY PLAN TO ATTACK THE FATIGUE OF THE COUNTERSINKING
OPERATORS.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
o Historically there have been complaints about the poor adaption of the tools and workstation for the task of
countersinking the assembly holes on the 171-181 doorgates. On top of that there is always an overload of parts to
be worked. The proposal is to help operators health and productivity via HFE improvement.
IDENTIFICATION OF VARIABLES THAT INFLUENCE THE PROBLEM.
o Methodology, Procedures, Documentation.
o Tool used, measurements.
o Environmental variables.
o Work load.
o Materials related issues.
o Operators factors, training, supervision.
POSSIBLE COUNTER MEASURES.
o TOOLS
o DOCUMENTS, INSTRUCTIONS, TRAINING
o WORKSTATIONS.
VERIFICATION AND CONCLUSIONS.
Becara
JC said: "Post your outline here."
TITLE:
Human Factors in Medical Record Storage
INTRODUCTION
Purpose of the project
(The need for record storage plan in preparation for implementation of electronic medical record (EMR))
PROBLEM STATEMENT:
Determine the most appropriate record storage format for current hard-copy patient records in preparation for an
electronic medical record
BACKGROUND:
• Definition and examples of medical records
• Requirements for retention of medical records
• Potential uses of stored medical records
• Storage methods
ANALYSIS:
PAPER RECORD STORAGE ASSESSMENT
• Amount of paper records currently stored
• Amount of paper records to be generated per month through
transition to EMR
• Reduction of paper records as they reach destruction dates

4. •
Shelving storage space required for paper record storage over next
10 years
• HFE evaluation of worker requirements to support paper record
storage
o Hours required to move records to overflow record storage
area
o Hours required to pull records for destruction
o Hours required to pull records on return patients (re-activated)
o Mechanics of pulling, storing, labeling boxes of records
(weights, heights of shelves, impact of lifting, injury potential,
etc.)
ASSESSMENT OF ELECTRONIC STORAGE OF PAPER RECORDS
• Amount of electronic storage space required to store current paper
records and additional paper records over next 10 years
• HFE evaluation of worker requirements to support scanning paper
records into electronic format:
o Process and equipment required to scan paper documents,
including quality control for accuracy and readability
o Mechanics of scanning documents (standing positions, lifting,
twisting, etc.)
o Workstation design for scanning
o Hours required to scan current volume of paper records
o Hours required to scan additional records over next 10 years
o Hours required to reproduce records upon readmission or
subpoena
POTENTIAL HFE COUNTERMEASURES:
• Procedures that require less human interaction with stored paper
records
• Alternative storage options, such as outsourced storage services
• Scanning equipment that is faster, easier, efficient for the worker
CONCLUSION:
Identification of solution that is safest for the workers and cost-effective for the facility.
Robin
rofessor JC wrote: "Post your outline here."
TITLE: The Use of Human Factor Engineering to Improve Laboratory Layout.
INTRODUCTION/PROBLEM STATEMENT:
Laboratory space is limited; however, working conditions can improve greatly by utilizing the space provided. With
multiple people using the same equipment, rearranging the lab to "work stations" will not only greatly improve the
use of the space; but also, improve the time needed to perform each task. One aspect of this project, is to prevent
additional risk for those who are performing a test with the unnecessary need to walk to the other side of the lab to
complete a test.
BACKGROUND:
o Give a history of the lab being used.
o Explain the current work environment.
o Current culture
o Explain the concerns of current lab personnel.
o Explain the tests involved.
o Explain the need for the change.
ANALYSIS:
o Possible areas of pain.
o Current location of equipment.
o Possible hazard of current work stations.

5. o Current location of chemical storage.
o Possible hazards of current chemical storage.
o Lack of movement/space when all lab personnel are in the lab.
o Time needed to perform tasks.
POTENTIAL HFE COUNTERMEASURES:
o Relocation of workstations.
o Difference layout of workstations.
o The addition of workstations (if room permits).
o Advanced equipment (if budget permits)
o Reorganization of lab drawers around workstations.
o Relocation of chemicals used for easier access.
CONCLUSION:
TBD – Hopefully, very happy lab personnel!
1- Title: "HFE accessorize and tools to reduce manual handling in the laborator
2- Introduction & Problem Statement
Manual handling involves any activity that requires the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull,
carry, move or hold an object
In the laboratory many repetitive actions and practices, most notably, pipetting., weighing, diluting solutions,
processing data, microscopy, and solvent transferring from one place to another, all these activities .are classified as
manual handling.
These activities have the potential to cause muscle strain and pain in the lower back, the fingers, the hands, the
shoulders, and even the arm and the legs
3- Analysis
•&νβσπ; Analyse the traditional practices during performing different activities like pipetting. weighing, diluting
solution, processing data, microscopy, and solvent transferring from one place to another and study the he negative
effects on the human body.
4- Potential HFE Countermeasures
•&νβσπ;Find out the proper and the safe way to handle these activities and the HFE role in improving these
practices.
•&νβσπ;Compare cases before and after implementing the HFE
•&νβσπ;What does it cost to implement the HFE measurement in the laboratory
•&νβσπ;
5-Conclusion
6-References
7-Glossary
8-Album
Wissam
Dr. JC wrote: "Post your outline here."
Title
Prevent nonconforming empty packages from escaping the visual inspection process
during clean room packaging.
Abstract
Summary of the project, and brief description of results.
Introduction & Problem Statement
Utilize HFE tools to minimize empty packages escaping the visual inspection process
during clean room packaging.

6. Background
ü Introduction to laboratory tools packaging station set up
ü Inspection procedure
ü Negative trending of Material Rejection Notice (MRN) due to missing components
Analysis
Cause and Effect Analysis (Fishbone Diagram)
ü Man: Is the operator trained on the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) for Packaging?
ü Machine: Are there any common causes of variation due to machine design?
ü Method: Is the process validated and documented properly?
ü Material: Do the packaging components contribute to the production nonconformance?
ü Measurement: Is there a monitoring system to check for missing component?
ü Environment: Is the packaging station set-up properly? Does the clean-room
environment contribute to the packaging nonconformance?
Use the 5 Whys technique
ü get to the root causes of the packaging nonconformance
Possible HFE countermeasure:
ü Check training records for packaging personnel
ü Belco Machine (package sealing machine) modification
ü Consider flextime, compress time arrangements
ü Introduce eye exercises during inspection
ü Remodel packaging inspection station
ü Revise SOP, add workmanship standards with pictures of nonconforming packages
ü Drive our fear of manager retaliation
Data and Results:
ü Data collected will be summarized and results will be posted in the conclusion
Conclusion:
ü Work in progress
Regards!
Guillermo
Sally Myer
HFE Project Paper Title: Use of Human Factor Engineering (HFE) to Reduce Medication Administration Errors by
Nurses
I. INTRODUCTION--EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM
A. Safety in healthcare
B. Frequency and types of medication administration errors
at my workplace
II. ANALYSIS OF ERRORS
A. Identification of Most Frequent Root Causes
1. Interruptions and distractions
2. Lack of cues when doses are due
3. Lack of standard medication administration process
III. POTENTIAL COUNTERMEASURES--UTILIZATION OF HFE
A. Strategies
1. Standardization

7. a. Standard Work
2. Visual Management
a. Communication Board
b. Electronic Status Board
3. Electronic Bedside Medication Verification (BMV)
a. Bar Coding
B. Tools/techniques to support adoption of countermeasures
1. Just Culture
a. Fair Management of Staff Behavior
2. Staff Engagement
IV. CONCLUSION