An introduction to Systems Thinking to Optimise Safety

Human Factors & Ergonomics (HFE) Hub

Paul Salmon and Sharon Todd discuss Systems Thinking methodologies and use, emergent properties and interactions, casual networks, system behaviour, AI and system failure.
Paul M. Salmon is a professor in Human Factors and is the creator and director of the Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Paul has almost 20 years’ experience of applied Human Factors research in areas such as road and rail safety, aviation, defence, sport and outdoor recreation, healthcare, workplace safety, and cybersecurity.

His research has focused on understanding and optimizing human, team, organisational and system performance through the application of Human Factors theory and methods. He is the current Editor-in-Chief of the Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing and Service Industries journal, and has co-authored 21 books, over 240 peer reviewed journal articles, and numerous book chapters and conference contributions. Paul’s work has been recognized through various accolades, including the Chartered Institute for Ergonomics and Human Factor’s 2019 William Floyd award and 2008 Presidents Medal, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Australia’s 2017 Cumming memorial medal, and the International Ergonomics Association’s 2018 research impacting practice award.

In 2020, the Australian newspaper named Professor Salmon as the top Australian researcher in the field of quality and reliability based on an analysis of league of scholars data and Google Scholar publications and citations. Paul's current research interests include the application of systems thinking and Human Factors and Ergonomics to global risks and existential threats. Paul is also interested more generally in the development and extension of Human Factors theory and methods and the translation of Human Factors research in practice. He currently leads major programs in the areas of accident analysis and prevention, risk assessment, road safety, cybersecurity, outdoor recreation, and artificial general intelligence.

Stay in touch with Paul and visit his other page:

• Paul Salmon on Twitter *

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