The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) has signed a letter of cooperation with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), creating a formal working relationship between the two organizations. The agreement creates an opportunity to accelerate the practical application of human factors in the energy industry and create a bridge between energy industry professionals and human factors experts. It will also facilitate HFES’ input in the development of guidance and resources to reflect human-centric solutions.
Together, the organizations seek common goals to promote communication between their members to improve safety, efficiency, and system design in the energy sector and share knowledge and member expertise with each other. This will occur through various events, programs and services, publications, and training held by each organization.
“HFES is excited by this partnership with SPE and the impact our organizations can have on the field of petroleum engineering,” said HFES President Christopher R. Reid. “This is the second agreement HFES has signed in recent months, demonstrating our commitment to expanding the reach and awareness of the HFE discipline, and ultimately making an impact on how humans can safely and effectively interact with their environments and systems in the workplace.”
“When we first began discussing this letter of cooperation, it was apparent how many synergies there were between SPE and HFES—from our common goals to the impact our members make on the workforce and society,” said Mark Rubin, CEO and executive vice president of SPE. “I look forward to the knowledge share between our members and the expanded resources and opportunities we’ll be making readily available to our two audiences.”
S. Camille Peres with HFES and Marcin Nazaruk, chair of the SPE Human Factors Technical Section, envisioned and developed the terms of the letter of cooperation.
HFES
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, founded in 1957, is the world’s largest scientific association for human factors and ergonomics professionals. HFES provides education, builds connections, and advocates on behalf of the human factors and ergonomics field—from students to researchers and industry practitioners—and fosters collaboration across the spectrum of professionals to drive forward advances in human factors and ergonomics because HFES believes that the seamless connection between humans and systems, and the connection between research and application, is vital to keeping all people safe.
Watch an introduction video here.
Find a list of human factors graduate degrees in the US here.
Learn more about pursuing a career in human factors here.
Join a local or a student chapter here.
The Society of Petroleum Engineers is a not-for-profit professional association whose more than 124,800 members in 134 countries are engaged in oil and gas exploration and production. SPE is a key resource for technical knowledge, providing opportunities to exchange information at in-person and online events and training courses, publications, and other resources.
The SPE Human Factors Technical Section is a growing source of resources and guidance on human factors for the energy industry.
Find the world’s largest database of industry guidance related to human factors here.
For Further Reading
Should Engineering Students Learn About Human Factors at Universities?
Closing the Gap in Human Factors: Everybody Has a Role To Play
Integrating Human Factor Engineering in Construction and Fabrication
Human Factors Becomes the New Driving Force in Safety Evolution