Original Article 171 JOHE, Autumn 2012; 1 (3) Human errors identification in operation of meat grinder using TAFEI technique Mohammadian M, MSc 1 , Choobineh AR, PhD 2 , Mostafavi Nave AR, MSc 3 , Hashemi Nejad N, PhD 4* 1- MSc Student, Dept. of Occupational Health, School of Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. 2- Professor, Dept. of Occupational Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 3- MSc Student, Dept. of Occupational Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 4- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Occupational Health, School of Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Abstract Received: May 2013, Accepted: December 2013 Background: Human error is the most important cause of occupational and non-occupational accidents. Because, it seems necessary to identify, predict and analyze human errors, and also offer appropriate control strategies to reduce errors which cause adverse consequences, the present study was carried out with the aim of identifying human errors while operating meat grinder and offer suggestions in order to reduce human errors in this human-machine system. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study. In this ergonomic study the “Task Analysis for Error Identification (TAFEI)” technique was used in order to identify human errors while operating a meat grinder machine. According to this technique, firstly, tasks of human side of the interaction were described by Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) and then the State-Space Diagrams (SSDs) were drawn. Finally, after forming the TAFEI diagrams, the transition matrix table was prepared in order to identify human errors. Results: After completing all the steps of TAFEI technique, the transition matrix table was formed. Results showed 49 illegal transition states; therefore, 49 human errors were identified and described while operating the meat grinder machine. Conclusion: The results of this study showed how and under which conditions may meat grinder users do error in the human-machine interaction. In this regard, possible human errors resulting from non-ergonomic design of Iranian meat grinder machine were identified. Keywords: Human, Identification, Product, Design, Methods Introduction We have all made mistakes while using different devices. Putting an empty kettle on the oven, forgetting to turn off the oven, burning clothes while ironing or a mistake in recording a video tape are all common errors we make in everyday life and which disturb us (1). People usually blame each other for these human errors. Such negative use of human error has made researchers to think more deeply about, why individuals commit errors in using professional and non- professional devices? Error is an inevitable part of human behavior. Such behaviors are hard to change; they cannot be forced into following error-free * ways of doing things. Therefore, the best thing we can do is to improve working situations, develop better machines and design more suitable working methods. In this way we can provide them a more secure working environment (2). Human error plays a key role in complicated industries like aviation, railway and nuclear power plant (3). It has been cited as a * Corresponding author: Naser Hashemi Nejad, Dept. of Occupational Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Email: n_hasheminejad@kmu.ac.ir