Human error is inevitable. People make mistakes – that’s just a part of life. But if those errors are potentially damaging to a business, that’s when we have a problem. They can lower productivity, damage morale, and even affect customers.
And human error is responsible for up to 90% of workplace accidents. Reducing it as much as possible is essential for any business to thrive. So what are the main causes? Let’s take a look…
Unattainable deadlines
If your staff feel as though they have a million and one tasks to do in a day, there’s a much greater chance for error. If they’re worried they won’t be able to keep up with their workload, they simply won’t be able to fully dedicate themselves to the task at hand.
As such, tasks are more likely to be rushed, with the focus being on just getting everything done and out of the way instead of completing them to the highest standards. Setting attainable deadlines means they can set aside enough time to get the job done properly.
Problems in their personal lives
When a member of staff is making regular errors, there’s likely an underlying cause. In fact, 47% of employees say that problems in their personal lives affect their performance at work. Staff that are too stressed can become distracted, making error much more likely. Speaking to them individually to see if you can help somehow may help reduce error. Or you could work to find a solution with them.
Not enough tech
Out-of-date technology, or even not enough technology, can increase the chance of error. When tasks are automated, there’s no human involved. Therefore, the chances are reduced drastically.
Not only that, the right tech can increase productivity, ease your staff’s workload, spot mistakes before they happen, and make communication seamless.
Not enough training and development
On the other hand, 41% of employees said they don’t believe they have the technical skills necessary to perform their jobs. And yet 83% of British workers use technology for their jobs.
If staff don’t have the skills to do their job properly, it should come as no surprise when there are errors. Regular training and development is essential for keeping employees not only capable at their jobs, but happy in them, too.
Internal communication
Clear, effective communication is essential in any business. Yet 57% of employees report being given unclear directions. When your staff don’t know what exactly they’re supposed to be doing, how do they do it properly? Ensuring consistent, open communication is one of the easiest ways to avoid human error at work.
For example, how do you know if certain tasks are done at work? Someone starts to do it, gets distracted, and forgets all about it or assumes someone else will pick it up. Before you know it, it’s the end of the day and it still hasn’t been done. By communicating and assigning tasks to groups, it allows these jobs to be picked up and completed. And automated reminders help, too.
There will always be errors in the workplace, but there are steps you can take to reduce them and keep a productive, efficient workplace. If you can help your staff work at their best, they’ll ensure you get the best results in return.
Inform People is all about reducing error and making the day as smooth as possible. With our platform, you can set tasks with deadlines, message staff instantly, and assess their training needs. To find out more, get in touch with us via email.
