Categories of human errors (Kontogiannis and Embrey, 1992):

1. Action errors: where either no action is taken, the wrong action is taken, or the correct action is taken but on the wrong object.
2. Checking errors: the checks are omitted, the wrong checks are made, or the correct check is made on the wrong object.
3. Retrieval errors: when information that is required is not available, or the wrong information is received.
4. Transmission errors: when information has to be passed onto someone else, either no information is sent, the wrong information is sent, or it is sent to the wrong place.
5. Diagnostic errors: when an abnormal event arises, the actual situation is misinterpreted.
6. Decision errors: when the circumstances were considered but the wrong decision is made.

Additional reading

• UK HSE (2009): Review of human reliability assessment methods, HSE RR679
• NUREG (2004): "The SPAR-H Human Reliability Analysis Method" (NUREG/CR-6883)
• NUREG (2005): "Good Practices for Implementing Human Reliability Analysis (HRA)" (NUREG-1792)
• Monash University (2005): "Human Error and Road Transport: Phase One - Literature Review" (Report 256)
• Monash University (2006): "Human Error and Road Transport: Phase two - A Framework for an Error Tolerant Road Transport System" (Report 257)
• NUREG (2007): "ATHEANA User's Guide" (NUREG-1880)