Forensic human factors and ergonomics: From theory to practice

This lead article of the special issue on Forensic Human Factors and Ergonomics (guest edited by Michael S. Wogalter and Christopher B Mayhorn) introduces the readership to the topic then describes the five articles included. Relevance to human factors / ergonomics theory This introductory article to the special issue on Forensic Human Factors and Ergonomics defines the topic and describes how the five articles address various aspects of topics such as the sometimes contentious relationship between science and law, transportation efforts to mitigate hazards with personal watercraft, perceptual and measurement issues in recon- structing automobile crashes, and causal issues in trip/fall. The terms ‘human factors’ and ‘ergonomics’ are frequently used interchangeably and have a collective definition as being an applied science that explores the interfaces and interac- tions between people and things. But if terms are distinguished in essential connotation, then ‘ergonomics’ tends to connote physical (musculoskeletal, bodily) interactions with things (such as interactions with physical controls and seating in passenger vehicles), whereas ‘human factors’ tends to be more associated with perceptual-cognitive processes involved with people’s interactions with things and environments. Forensic Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) concerns the application of domain related principles to investigations of injuries (and sometimes property damage) usually in the legal/law context (Wogalter 2019a). At first glance, a special thematic issue on Forensic HFE in the journal Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Sciences ( TIES ) might seem somewhat antithetical given the journal’s apparent target focus on theoretical issues. Forensic HFE is an applied area and so may seem quite distant from theory, but actually Forensic HFE is closely tied to theory in that it involves the application of theory to specific personal injury or property damage cases. The journal’s website specifies the journal’s focus as broader than a strict concern with theoretical issues. The scope of the journal is described in this way: First it says : ‘Theoretical © 2020 i nforma u K l imited, trading as Taylor & Francis g roup CONTACT c hristopher B. m ayhorn c hris_ m ayhorn@ ncsu .edu Psychology Department, n orth c arolina s tate u niversity, 640 Poe h all r aleigh, nc 27695-7650 usa https://doi.org/10.1080/1463922X.2020.1731860 ARTICLE HISTORY Received 5 February 2020 Accepted 15 February 2020