Senior Post-Doctoral Scientist, Healthcare

How did you find out about ergonomics?
When I was 17 a careers advisor suggested I look at ergonomics, as they recognised the value of my scientific background, but also my desire for creativity, problem solving, and working with real people on real problems that could benefit us all.

Why a career in ergonomics?
I enrolled on an engineering course, but had already decided that it was too dry and purely scientific for me, so I changed to ergonomics and felt instantly at home. Indeed, it turned out to be just about the best decision I've ever made. Since then, I've wanted to stay doing ergonomics, and have been lucky to be able to do what I've done. I still love it, and while my specialisms may eventually take me away from ergonomics in the broadest sense, I imagine I will always consider myself first and foremost an ergonomist.

What’s been the most interesting project you’ve worked on?
I’ve been very lucky to work on several fascinating and influential projects. With one, we were able to fundamentally improve aviation security in the UK by taking a human-centred approach to the introduction of a new x-ray screening technology (before 9/11). My work in healthcare looking at reducing errors in paediatric cardiac surgery (about the most complex type of surgery one can imagine!) has probably been the most interesting, because of the challenges I faced in learning about (and seeing at first hand) surgical error, but also the rewards of finding answers and making important improvements to the care of very sick kids. Working with the Ferrari F1 motor racing team on some of this work was great fun, and the success of that small project has subsequently taken me all over the world.

What’s been the most challenging work you’ve done?
Working on surgical errors has been the most challenging by far; having to understand the language of medicine; the complexity of hospitals and surgical care; faced with doctors and nurses who have never heard of human factors, deny making errors, and directly question the value of your work; yet seeing errors happen, being able to identify why they've happened and how to avoid making them again; introducing new concepts and ways of working, having to defend and scientifically measure complex interactions between people and their work environment. These challenges are what make it so rewarding both personally and professionally.

What do you do on a typical day?
Answer emails, have a cup of coffee, analyse a set of data at my desk or visit the ward or operating theatres to collect data, have lunch, talk to someone about a safety project and the ergonomics/human factors involved, and then write a presentation, or work on a scientific paper for future publication.

What do you find most satisfying about your work?
Offering expertise that few other people can offer and knowing it will benefit the people who are doing the work. Getting first-hand experience of other jobs without actually having to do the job. I've spent time on warships, in ambulances, operating theatres, wards, airports and factories. I volunteered to sit in a bunker that was shelled and even got to fly a multi-million pound flight simulator. And finally being able to turn all that into science that clearly demonstrates progress and value, is intellectually challenging, and changes the way we all think about the world.