Professor Paul Salmon

Professor Human Factors

Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems

Professor Paul Salmon holds a chair in Human Factors and is creator and director of the Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He currently holds an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship and has over 22 years experience in applied Human Factors research in a number of areas, including defence, transportation, workplace safety, sport and outdoor recreation, cyber security and disaster management.

Paul has co-authored 22 books, over 290 peer reviewed journal articles, and numerous conference articles and book chapters. His current research is focussed on applying Human Factors theories and methods to better understand and prevent major societal issues. Paul is particularly passionate about Human Factors methods and their capacity to help optimise health and wellbeing, and believes the discipline has a bigger calling in this respect. He enjoys football, cycling and running, and is an avid Star Wars fan.

Paul has received various accolades for his contributions to research and practice, including the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Australia’s Cumming Memorial Medal, the UK Ergonomics Society’s Presidents Medal, and the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Hodgson Prize for best research and paper.

Selected recent publications (see publications page for full list)

Salmon, P. M., Read, G. J. M., Walker, G. H., Lenne, M. G., Stanton, N. A. (2018). Distributed Situation Awareness in Road Transport: Theory, Measurement, and Application to Intersection Design. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

Salmon, P. M., Read, G. J. M., Beanland, V., Thompson, J., Filtness, A., Hulme, A., McClure, R., Johnston, I. (2019). Bad behaviour or societal failure? Perceptions of the factors contributing to drivers’ engagement in the fatal five driving behaviours. Applied Ergonomics, 74, 162-171.

Salmon, P. M., & Read, G. J. M. (2018). Using principles from the past to solve the problems of the future: human factors and sociotechnical systems thinking in the design of future work. Human Factors and Ergonomics in the Manufacturing and Service Industries, 28, 277-280.

Stanton, N. A., Salmon, P. M, Walker, G. H., Salas, E., Hancock, P. (2017). State-of-the-science: Situation Awareness Models. Ergonomics, 60:4, 449-466

Top cited publications

Stanton, N. A., Salmon, P. M., Rafferty, L. & Walker, G. H. (2013). Human factors methods: A practical guide for engineering and design. 2nd Edition, Ashgate, Aldershot, UK

Stanton, N. A., Stewart, R., Harris, D., Houghton, R. J., Baber, C., McMaster, R., Salmon, P. M., Hoyle, G., Walker, G. H., Young, M. S., Linsell, M., Dymott, R., & Green, D. (2006). Distributed situation awareness in dynamic systems: theoretical development and application of an ergonomics methodology. Ergonomics, Vol 49, pp. 1288 – 1311.

Salmon, P. M., Stanton, N., Walker, G., & Green, D. (2006). Situation awareness measurement: A review of applicability for C4i environments. Applied Ergonomics, Vol 37, 2, pp. 225-238.

Stanton, N.A., & Salmon, P. M. (2009). Human error taxonomies applied to driving: a generic driver error taxonomy and its implications for intelligent transport systems. Safety Science. 47:2, pp. 227-237.

Salmon, P. M., Stanton, N. A., Walker, G. H., Jenkins, D. P., Ladva, D., Rafferty, L., Young, M. S. (2009). Measuring situation awareness in complex systems: Comparison of measures study. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 39, pp. 490-500.