RD&A: Human Factors and Risk Management

Forest Service employees work in a variety of hazardous environments, averaging seven fatalities per year over the past decade. Fire and aviation management activities are particularly high risk operations. Leading causes of firefighter fatalities in order: aircraft accidents, motor vehicle accidents, heart disease, and entrapments. Aircraft accident rates (per 100,000 flight hours):

            Commercial Airline Accident Rate (2006)….…...  0.135

            General Aviation Accident Rate (2006)…………  6.32

            U.S. Forest Service (1989-2008)……..………….  6.29

            U.S. Coast Guard Mishap Rate (2000-2007)…….  0.03

High performance and reliability are by definition safe performance. One ancillary benefit is reduced costs. High performance – reduced accident rates and efficient operations – requires competence in four critical areas or perspectives (Individual Behavior, Personal Meaning, Procedures & Systems, and Culture & Shared Values). The Human Factors and Risk Management RD&A seeks to build capacity in each of these areas.