Welcome to the Human Factors Hub

Welcome to Episode 4 of the Human Factors in Health and Care Podcast. In this episode, the hosts explore why work procedures—policies, SOPs, pathways, checklists and all other cognitive aids—so often fall short in practice, and how a human‑centred design approach can make them more usable, more realistic, and safer.

Drawing on real examples and evidence, the discussion examines the gap between work as imagined and work as done, the importance of co‑design, and why involving the right people at the right time is essential for procedures that genuinely support safe, efficient work.

Three things you will learn:

• Why many work procedures fail in practice, including issues of usability, context, and disconnect from real‑world work.
• Key principles of human‑centred design, including co‑design, capturing multiple perspectives, and grounding procedures in “work as done.”
• What supports successful implementation and sustainability, such as team agreement, realistic design, and avoiding unnecessary complexity that adds burden to staff.

Please select the logo to listen or download episode four.