Applying human factors engineering methods for hazard identification and mitigation in the radiotherapy process

The radiotherapy process is complex, and there is potential for inappropriate treatment delivery. Human Factors Engineering (HFE) studies interactions between people and systems to improve those relations. Therefore, by using HFE methods, this study analyzes the relations between radiotherapists and their work and limitations in a Brazilian hospital to contribute to hazard mitigation and safety. Results show safety hazards regarding usability and ergonomic issues such as discomfort, distraction, mental fatigue, protocol non-compliance, and errors. That may induce errors of treating the wrong patient, applying radiation to the wrong part of the patient's body and causing harm. The combination of HFE methods was fundamental to the identification of safety hazards as they involve precisely the multifactorial characteristics of the process, i.e., the relationship among human, technologies, organization, environment and tasks. Hence, safety hazard mitigation depends on everyone involved in the treatment delivery.