Master the cognitive foundations of human error so you can design safer systems, lead with clarity and prevent incidents before they happen.
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Human Factors in Safety 1: Cognitive Performance
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Online
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Human error plays a role in most safety incidents, from decision fatigue to automation overload. This course, developed with the Safety Academy by Qantas Group and RMIT Aviation Academy, builds the foundations of human cognition, perception and system interaction so you can design safer systems and prevent incidents before they happen.
You’ll unpack how people process information, make decisions under stress, and interact with complex systems, learning why factors like memory, attention, fatigue and communication are often the hidden drivers of risk. Using real-world incident analysis and models trusted by Qantas, you’ll leave equipped with practical strategies to identify risks early and implement improvements that lead to safer, stronger outcomes across any high-risk industry.
- Mid to senior career professionals working in high-risk, high-reliability industries, seeking to formalise or broaden their safety and risk management expertise.
- Industry-embedded leaders and team managers responsible for safety across complex operational environments – from aviation and marine to rail, petrochemicals and public safety.
- Professionals looking to transition from defense or public sector roles into corporate safety leadership positions.
- Safety officers, airport managers, dispatchers, pilots and analysts wanting to upskill, stay current with evolving practices, and validate on-the-job experience with formal learning.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Identify and critically analyse key concepts used in Human Factors and cognitive-related issues that contribute to safety performance
- Identify limitations in perception, memory and attention that affect operational behavior
- Analyse stress, fatigue and workload as performance risk factors
- Recognise the importance of effective communication and decision-making in high-risk environments
- Evaluate the causes of human error and propose management strategies
This 6-week course is delivered 100% online with flexible, guided learning. You'll work through real incident case studies, culminating in an analysis project that puts your learning into action.
By the end of the course, you’ll present a final analysis of your chosen incident, identifying the key human error factors involved and recommending improvements to enhance safety outcomes.
You’ll graduate with practical tools to spot human error early, apply tested models like SHELL and Swiss Cheese, and design improvements that reduce risk, using the same safety frameworks trusted by the Safety Academy.
This is Part 1 of Human Factors for Investigators. Part 2 is Human Factors in Safety: Social Aspects of Human Performance and Systems. These courses are designed to be taken one after the other.
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Course Structure
Learn more about Human Factors in Safety 1: Cognitive PerformanceModule 1: Human Factors and human error
+- Understand the foundational concepts of human factors in safety
- Analyse the causes and impacts of human error
- Evaluate strategies for managing human errors effectively
Module 2: Perception and memory
+- Explore various human error models like SHELL and Swiss-Cheese
- Apply these models to real-world safety scenarios
- Critically assess the models effectiveness in error management
Module 3: Stress and fatigue
+- Identify cognitive limitations like memory and perception affecting safety
- Examine cognitive-related issues in operational settings
- Propose strategies to mitigate these human errors
Module 4: Communication
+- Recognise stress, fatigue, and workload as risk factors
- Analyse their impact on safety performance
- Evaluate management techniques to reduce these risks
Module 5: Attention and Situational Awareness
+- Highlight the importance of communication in safety management
- Develop effective decision-making and communication strategies
- Assess the impact of poor communication on safety outcomes
Module 6: Decision making and workload
+- Investigate various strategies to manage human error
- Implement practical solutions in safety management
- Evaluate and improve existing management strategies
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RMIT is a global university of technology, design and enterprise.
One of Australia's original tertiary institutions, RMIT University enjoys an international reputation for excellence in professional and vocational education, applied research, and engagement with the needs of industry and the community.
RMIT is...
RMIT is a global university of technology, design and enterprise.
One of Australia's original tertiary institutions, RMIT University enjoys an international reputation for excellence in professional and vocational education, applied research, and engagement with the needs of industry and the community.
RMIT is a world leader in Art and Design; Architecture and the Built Environment; Engineering; Accounting and Finance; and Business and Management Studies.
Through the Safety Academy by Qantas Group, decades of aviation safety excellence combined with expertise from universities are being transformed into practical learning for the next generation of safety professionals. Designed to be inclusive and accessible to anyone with a passion for safety, the Safety Academy provides the opportunity...
Through the Safety Academy by Qantas Group, decades of aviation safety excellence combined with expertise from universities are being transformed into practical learning for the next generation of safety professionals. Designed to be inclusive and accessible to anyone with a passion for safety, the Safety Academy provides the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills that are transferrable across a breadth of industries and roles.
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