Oops! Why Things Go Wrong: Understanding and Controlling Error

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A straight-forward apology, recognising that you’ve made a mistake, goes a long way to patching things up. Take responsibility for your own actions and don’t blame others. Most people are very forgiving – after all, everyone makes mistakes. Put things right Again, the statistics are clear: total deaths globally in commercial jet aviation in 1977 numbered around 3000 people while currently figures are less than 1000 annually despite an almost tenfold increase in passenger numbers. Indeed, in 2017 the number of deaths globally was zero! This is due largely to our focus on Human Factors since the late 70s. I have known Niall for many decades, as a medical student in Trinity ... a potential Olympic cyclist, a Surgical Registrar and a pilot. He has always ... been an excellent researcher with great integrity which is reflected in his book Oops! Why Things Go Wrong. I recommend that everyone should read this book.’– Fellow Emeritus Professor Moira O’Brien, Retired Professor of Anatomy, Trinity College, Dublin, Founding Fellow of the RCPI/RCSI Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine Oops! Why Things Go Wrong: Understanding and Controlling Error pdf Oops! Why Things Go Wrong: Understanding and Controlling Error WAYB remains an indispensable companion for anyone seriously committed to the profession of author, whether full-time or part-time; and as always it is particularly valued by those who are setting out hopefully on that vocational path.' - David Lodge

When I jumped ship to retrain as an airline pilot, I was somewhat disorientated by a completely different approach to error. It was seen as inevitable and therefore something to be dealt with, not to be ashamed of. It took me quite a while to come to terms with this different mentality, but over time I realised what a valuable approach it was.

Oops! How to deal with mistakes

Society’s development has accelerated at warp speed over recent decades and shows no signs of slowing down. Unfortunately, our brains have had trouble keeping up and are trying to function in a highly complex, rapidly changing environment while still running on caveman software! In this ground-breaking book, Niall Downey – a cardio-thoracic surgeon who retrained to become a commercial airline pilot – uses his expertise in medicine and aviation to explore the critical issue of managing human error. With further examples from business, politics, sport, technology, the civil service and other fields, Downey makes a powerful case that by following some clear guidelines any organisation can greatly reduce the incidence and impact of human error. It took me quite a while to come to terms with this different mentality, but over time I realised what a valuable approach it was.

When I jumped ship to retrain as an airline pilot, I was somewhat disorientated by a completely different approach to error.” So begins this pioneering book by Niall Downey – a cardio-thoracic surgeon who retrained to become a commercial airline pilot – where he uses his expertise in medicine and aviation to explore the critical issue of managing human error. With further examples from business, politics, sport, technology, education and other fields, Downey makes a powerful case that by following some clear guidelines any organisation can greatly reduce the incidence and impact of making serious mistakes. I was sitting at the nurses’ station on a ward in a major Belfast hospital. The bed closest to me had the curtains pulled. The ‘crash’ team had just left and behind the curtains was an elderly lady who had just died from irrecoverable cardiac failure, precipitated by me prescribing her more intravenous fluids than her ailing heart was apparently able to handle. I had just killed my first patient!Finally, don’t despair – what seems awful at the time, can be something to laugh about or make for a really good story years later! Find out more Again, the statistics are clear: total deaths globally in commercial jet aviation in 1977 numbered around 3.000 people while currently figures are less than 1,000 annually despite an almost 10-fold increase in passenger numbers. Indeed. in 2017 the number of deaths globally was zero! This is due largely to our focus on Human Factors since the late 70s. Niall Downey is perhaps the only person in the world who could write this important new book . . . an owner's manual on how to work, live and play safer by knowing how and why errors happen.’ Dr Brian Goldman, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, and author of The Secret Language of Doctors

A small mistake can soon start to spiral out of a control. The earlier you can admit you’ve made a mistake, the easier it is to deal with. The best thing to do is to speak to the person directly involved – be it your teacher, boss, parent, relative or friend. If that seems too big a step, talk to someone who can support you first. Keeping things to yourself can make them seem worse than they really are. Say sorry

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If you're coming to Coles by car, why not take advantage of the 2 hours free parking at Sainsbury's Pioneer Square - just follow the signs for Pioneer Square as you drive into Bicester and park in the multi-storey car park above the supermarket. Come down the travelators, exit Sainsbury's, turn right and follow the pedestrianised walkway to Crown Walk and turn right - and Coles will be right in front of you. You don't need to shop in Sainsbury's to get the free parking! Where to Find Us Society is also, unfortunately, very intolerant of error, especially in others. We need to change this mindset. Other industries are by no means immune from error. Agriculture, for instance, has the highest mortality rate among workers in the UK and Ireland. UK figures show deaths consistently running at 20 times higher than other industries. Errors in the financial industry led to a global meltdown of financial markets in 2008, the effects of which are still being felt. Perhaps it’s time to teach people how to analyse information to try to separate the wheat from the chaff.”