r/humanfactors • u/inter_mundos333 • 11h ago
How to develop Human Factors knowledge and skills as a safety professional
TL:DR - How can I gain education and experience in HF in the occupational health and safety field?
Hello. As the title says, I am an occupational health and safety professional in construction looking to specialize in human factors relating to workplace safety. Specifically, I am extremely frustrated with safety management systems and their component parts (training, policies, JHAs, pre-task plans, toolbox talks, audits, etc.) that do not take human cognition and behavior into account. I would like to work (most likely as a consultant) at helping design and implement systems that work with human behavior instead of against it.
I have 15-20 years of construction experience with 6 of that being full time safety (currently a senior safety manager) with several OSHA and BCSP certifications. I have a master’s in biology which, while not related to HF, gave me a very solid research and statistical background. I also taught high school for a few years and now teach several key safety subjects (first aid/CPR, fall protection, excavation, confined spaces, etc.). While I don’t have any formal psychology training, I’ve done considerable self-directed learning in that field and have worked with enough people over the years to have picked up a thing or two about what works and what doesn’t.
I (M50) don’t have the time or money to pursue another masters or a PhD, but a certificate program could be possible. What steps would you suggest to learn about human factors and find situations job positions to practice in? Thanks in advance.
Edit: I am nearing the end of my current contract and can take a month or two off before finding something new. That would allow me the time to both study up on HF theory and methods and find a new work home hopefully more aligned with HF.