ABSTRACT
Probably the first classification of industrial accidents to recognise the importance of human error was proposed by Heinrich (1931) in his distinction between unsafe acts and unsafe conditions. The general value of human error classifications is that they allow a more structured and focused approach to understanding both the potential causes of the error and the best route to error reduction. Errors of commission are, fundamentally, where human do something wrong. Errors of omission are where human fail to do something which human should have done. The general value of human error classifications is that they allow a more structured and focused approach to understanding the potential causes of the error and the best route to error reduction. Rule-based errors occur when the operation is defined by a series of known rules. A rule-based error occurs when the wrong action is ascribed to a rule or when a rule requires action but no action is taken.
