This chapter explore human factors, also known as ergonomics, which is an established scientific discipline that has become integral in healthcare in recent years. The catalyst for this in the UK was the Clinical Human Factors Group led by Martin Bromiley. Martin’s wife Elaine died following errors made during a routine operation when the theatre team failed to respond appropriately to an unanticipated anaesthetic emergency in part because of a variety of human factors. There is still confusion around the term ‘human factors’. This is partly because human factors cannot be explored in isolation but need to be understood in the context of human activity, error, and the culture around error.

Health and Safety within the perioperative area present unique challenges in terms of managing the unique hazards and risks that staff and patients can be exposed to. Hazards from lasers, electrical equipment, chemicals, moving and handling, exposure to noxious vapours and gases are just some of the common environmental risks staff are exposed to on a daily basis. This chapter focuses on putting some of the legislation and guidance into the perioperative context. One of the primary aims of the chapter is to foster a culture of appropriate risk assessment and safe practice which will reduce or minimise errors.