Human error happens. After all, we are all only just that – human. But human error in the work place can sometimes have devastating consequences, and human error must be eliminated as much as possible. Human error prevention training, along with human error reduction training, can help to remove these threats as much as possible from various work places all throughout the United States. However, though human error prevention training is important, perhaps even crucial, to the success of a work place and the overall larger company, it is also very much so important to address the cause behind the human error that is occurring in the first place. There are a number of causes behind human error and while human error prevention training and courses can prevent them in the moment, the root of the problem must also be addressed if the work place expects to continue to or even to begin to thrive.

First of all, it is important to understand the breadth of human error in the typical American work place. Studies have shown that it often leads to a quarter – nearly twenty five percent – of all unplanned downtime in the industry of manufacturing. This downtime is caused by human error and can seriously and even severely inhibit productivity, leading to deficits for the company as well as the industry at large. And in the Drug and Device Manufacturing Industry alone, human error makes up at least eighty percent of all of the problems that must be dealt with on a daily basis there and in that realm of manufacturing. Human error has also been found through recently gathered data to cause as much as ninety percent of all work place accidents. This of course means that will the adequate human error prevention training, often debilitating accidents can be all but avoided all together.

When we are first looking at how to prevent human error in manufacturing, we must look at the communication in each and every individual place of work. Communication is key, but it is also the thing that is most often lacking in a place of work. In fact, when surveyed, the most common complaint that the typical employee had was that they were not communicated with frequently enough or even thoroughly enough. And around half of all employees in the industry of manufacturing felt that they would even be vastly more productive if their superiors shared with them important information and data about their jobs and their role within the company and the industry at large. And accidents are more likely to take place, as nearly half of all such employees have left a meeting without a clear idea of what they are meant to do next and proceed with. This can lead to significantly increased stress levels which, in more than fifty percent of all employees, has been found to lower motivation and, subsequently, their overall productivity.

Regulatory compliance courses online can be a huge part of human error prevention training, and it can give employees and their employers alike the necessary human error prevention tools. However, it is important to note the important role of communication in the work place. After all, a lack of communication can be hugely detrimental – and even deadly, in some circumstances – and should be viewed with the seriousness that this matter deserves. Fixing communication problems in a work place such as in the manufacturing industry is likely to have a hugely positive benefit, with employees feeling more motivated and “in the loop” which will lead to better engagement and, as an end result, better levels of productivity. It will also, as can be assumed, drastically drop the number of work place human errors that are sustained in a typical day, week, month, year, etc. Human error prevention training is just simply the first step, but work places and industries must be committed to change if they are going to see any significant improvement to the extent that many of them are hoping for. To err is human, but most work place human errors can be prevented – and should be through better communication.