Human errors monitoring in electrical transmission networks based on a partitioning algorithm

Operational experience from electrical transmission networks has demonstrated that human error represents a key factor in operating inefficiencies, equipment damage, and accidental incidents. The awareness of the importance of human factor has increased significantly over the last few years primarily owing to the fact that some major incidents have had significant human error contributions. The analysis of these incidents has led to recognition of the fact that more information about human actions and errors is needed to improve the safety and operation of electrical transmission networks. Thus, power grid companies are placing renewed emphasis on approaches to prevent the occurrence and limit the effects of human errors. This paper analyzes human errors in the electrical transmission networks of the Romanian Power Grid Company. It is important to understand how human operators supervise these networks and the challenges they face in the monitoring task. In the paper an analysis of incidents related to human errors, over a time span of 10 years (2000–2009) was performed. The analysis is based on partitioning the electrical transmission network of Romania using a clustering method. The aim is to provide design engineers with a better understanding of the electrical network operation so that they can respond to the needs of the operators in when new human–machine interfaces for monitoring tasks are implemented.

► Proposal of a new method for human errors monitoring in electrical transmission networks.
► Use of a clustering method to partitioning of electrical transmission networks.
► Adoption of a statistical analysis for identification of high risk zones in terms of incidents caused by human errors.
► The method was tested on electrical transmission network of Romania.