Familiarity as Distraction: Operating on Autopilot
Operating on autopilot, or being distracted by familiarity, can lead to errors in decision-making due to the brain working at a skill-based level. Familiar actions have a low error rate, while new or unique actions have a higher error rate. Incidents often occur when people are operating at a skill-based level, as they become distracted easily. To prevent errors, safeguards like buddy checks or checklists are essential.
