This paper is a synopsis of the Crispian Scully Lecture, presented by one of the authors (PAB), at the 2021 European Association of Oral Medicine (EAOM) Conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

It provides an overview of human factors that affect individuals and teams, highlighting ways to reduce the chances of error and improve patient safety.

Error is an inevitable and ‘normal’ part of being human, and it can never be completely eliminated, though learning from mistakes is essential.

Human factor application in health care can greatly improve patient safety and lead to better team working and staff morale. Personal factors including tiredness, hunger, dehydration and stress can all reduce performance and raise the risk of clinical error. It is also important to understand and optimise interaction within the clinical team. Poor communication, steep hierarchy and loss of situational awareness can all potentially compromise patient safety.