What Are Human Factors?
Human Factors is the science of how people think, feel, and behave while performing tasks — especially under pressure. It explores how we make decisions, manage stress, stay focused, and work with others. In simple terms, it’s about understanding the human side of performance:
Attention & focus
Decision-making & judgement
Stress & fatigue
Communication & teamwork
Resilience & emotional regulation
Human Factors helps us understand why people sometimes make mistakes, how to prevent them, and how to support people to perform at their best — even in challenging moments.
From the Flight Deck to Everyday Life
Human Factors began in aviation, where research showed that most accidents weren’t caused by mechanical failure — but by human overload, stress, or breakdowns in communication. By training pilots and crew to recognise and manage these risks, aviation transformed its safety record and saved thousands of lives.
Today, Human Factors is taught far beyond the cockpit. The same principles are now used in:
- Driving – helping new and experienced drivers manage risk, distraction, and decision pressure
- Schools – giving pupils tools for resilience, teamwork, and emotional regulation
- Workplaces – supporting safe, effective, and healthy performance under pressure
- Healthcare – where aviation-style Human Factors training is now used to reduce medical error and improve patient safety
Wherever people face pressure, complexity, or high-stakes decisions, Human Factors makes a difference.
Why It Matters
We all make decisions every day that affect safety, wellbeing, and success. By understanding Human Factors, we can:
Reduce mistakes and accidents
Improve confidence and resilience
Build stronger teams and communities
Help people stay calm, focused, and in control when it matters most
Our Mission at C² Human Factors
We take the life-saving lessons of Human Factors science from aviation and bring them to the classroom, the driver’s seat, and the workplace — so people of all ages and backgrounds can learn to think clearly, act safely, and recover well.