John is a Fellow of the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (FIEHF), a Chartered Member of IOSH, member of the British Psychological Society, and a Principal Human Factors Consultant at The Keil Centre. He holds a BA (Hons) in Psychology from Sheffield University and a post-graduate Diploma in Health and Safety from Warwick/HSE.
He worked in the UK’s Health & Safety Executive (HSE) as a regulator for over 21 years, and as Human & Organisational Factors Team Leader and Principal Specialist Inspector (Human Factors) from 2003. From 1999 till 2011 he was closely involved in developing HSE’s strategy, approach and delivery on human factors including the ‘Key Topics’ approach to human factors, and the HSE human factors’ webpages, and developing human factors’ training and guidance for inspectors and specialists in the major hazard sectors on and offshore.
He now works on The Keil Centre's human factors programmes and undertakes projects on a variety of ergonomic/human factor topics, including the HSE ‘Key Topic’ areas for human factors eg competency, procedures, human error in operations and maintenance, accident investigation, shiftwork/fatigue, safety culture, design eg control room & HCI, organisational change and staffing levels, emergency response, supervision, communication in safety-critical industries.
Prior work and examples:
- Expert subject matter reviewer on human factors for the US Chemical Safety Board’s investigation report on the BP Texas City disaster
- Lead investigator on human factors for the UK’s Health & Safety Executive’s investigation at Buncefield
- EPSC Team Award for contribution to human factors in process safety (as team leader for HSE Human Factors Team: EPSC/Keil: 2006)
- Energy Institute ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ in recognition of his much valued services as longstanding member of the Human and Organisational Factors Committee, and significant contribution to the field of human and organisational factors.
Recent/Current work:
- With the UK Health and Safety Executive, managing research on developing a process safety climate tool, and in extending the concept of High Reliability Organisations to wider major hazard industries as part of post-Buncefield work for the Process Safety Leadership Group
- Advice on shiftwork and fatigue issues, and on a human factor issues in a control room integration project for a Top-Tier COMAH site
- Delivery of a training package for safety critical procedure writers and developers
- Delivery of training on the IChemE-accredited Human Factors Professional Development Programme
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Human factors’ gap analysis against HSE Key Topics for a major offshore operating company
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Review and assessment of a Control of Work/permit system for a major offshore operator
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Review of the reliability of specialist NDT structural weld crack detection on an ageing North Sea asset
- Review of fatigue and shiftwork arrangements for an onshore and offshore operator, and revision of fatigue policy and arrangements
- Joint article with an onshore refinery client on good and bad practice in fatigue and shiftwork management (download)