Integrating Human Factors Engineering – A pragmatic approach to offshore wind design

In this technical paper, we explore the critical role of human factors engineering (HFE) in designing safer and more efficient offshore wind farms.

We challenge the common misconception that human error is the primary cause of incidents, highlighting how assumptions made during design more often set the stage for failure. Our approach integrates HFE into the design process pragmatically and early enough, emphasising its importance in achieving safety by design.

We outline key HFE activities, including human task requirements identification and safety-critical task analysis, and demonstrate how these support risk assessment, treatment, and monitoring. While acknowledging challenges such as upfront costs and potential resistance to change, we argue that the benefits of HFE – enhanced safety, cost savings, improved reliability, and regulatory compliance – far outweigh these limitations. We conclude by advocating for offshore wind sector-specific HFE guidance and standards to further improve offshore wind farm design and operation.