South Africa’s ongoing energy crisis, marked by never-ending rolling blackouts, has become a national ordeal with no apparent end in sight. The repeated failure to stabilize the country’s power supply has exposed not just technical shortcomings but also a fundamental flaw in how the crisis is being managed. The government has cycled through numerous so-called experts—like a series of inept Bobs from "Bob the Builder"—all failing to address the root of the problem.
The real issue, as recent events at Eskom have demonstrated, is that the situation is being treated as a "people problem" when, in reality, it is far more complex. Ironically, the solution is simple and well within reach: the implementation of comprehensive checklists.
The Latest Cock-Up | A Flashing Light Ignored
In a recent analysis by Eskom’s senior management, it was revealed that a significant power generation unit at the Kusile power station tripped because an operator ignored a flashing light on a control panel. This light indicated a low oil level—a seemingly minor issue that led to a major disruption.
Eskom’s reliance on human operators to manage such critical processes highlights a systemic flaw. The operation of a power station should not hinge on the attentiveness of a single individual. Instead, it should be driven by a well-defined process that integrates machine-derived information and automated controls. In modern industries, repetitive tasks—especially those critical to safety and operation—are more consistently and reliably managed by machines.
The Role of Checklists in Complex Operations
The problem with relying solely on human operators, or even machines without oversight, is that both can and do make mistakes. While machines are generally more reliable than humans for repetitive tasks, they are not infallible. So, where does the solution lie?
The answer is in the use of checklists—a tool that has been proven time and again to reduce errors and improve the reliability of complex operations. Checklists serve as a safeguard against human error, machine malfunction, and process failure. They are not a new concept; checklists have been used extensively in various industries since World War II, starting with the American bomber fleet. Today, they are indispensable in fields like aviation, medicine, and information technology.
Complex tasks—such as operating a power station—cannot be left to human memory or cognitive ability alone. Sooner or later, someone will take a shortcut or overlook a critical step. Checklists are designed to prevent this by enforcing checks and validating actions and tasks, ensuring that every step is completed correctly.
Eskom's Systematic Failure
The situation at Eskom is a textbook example of a systematic failure, where the absence of comprehensive checklists and a process-driven approach has led to repeated crises. Senior management’s tendency to blame individuals for these failures only highlights their lack of understanding of operational fundamentals.
Firing the person responsible for ignoring the flashing light might seem like a solution, but it is not. The next person could easily make the same mistake. Replacing human operators with machines might improve reliability, but it will not eliminate all risks. The key is to introduce checklists that enforce the necessary checks and ensure continuous improvement.
Lessons from History | The Cost of Neglecting Checklists
The importance of checklists in preventing disasters is well-documented. Take, for example, the tragic Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and the more recent Boeing 737 Max crashes. Both incidents were the result of systematic failures where critical processes were overlooked, often due to decisions made by non-technical bean counters. In the case of the Boeing 737 Max, a hidden system known as MCAS was not included in pilot checklists, leading to catastrophic failures. The pilots were wrongly blamed, but the root cause was a lack of proper oversight and process management.
Similarly, the incidents at Eskom point to a failure of the institution’s senior management to implement a robust, process-driven approach. By not adopting checklists, they have left the operation of critical infrastructure vulnerable to the whims of human error.
The Simple Solution | Implementing Checklists at Eskom
The flashing light that caused the recent power station trip was a low oil warning. With a proper checklist in place, this issue would have been identified and resolved long before it became critical. A checklist would have required regular checks of oil levels, ensuring that the problem was addressed in a timely manner.
Eskom’s senior management needs to embrace the simplicity and effectiveness of checklists. These tools would provide a systematic way to catch and address potential issues before they escalate into crises. It’s not about blaming individuals; it’s about creating a process that prevents such failures in the first place.
Wrap: The Way Forward for Eskom
South Africa’s ongoing power crisis is a stark reminder that complex operations cannot be managed effectively without proper processes in place. Eskom’s reliance on human operators and outdated methods has led to repeated failures. The implementation of checklists is a straightforward and proven solution that can dramatically reduce errors and improve the reliability of power generation.
It’s time for Eskom’s management to move beyond the "Bob the Builder" approach and start running the organization like a modern, process-driven operation. Only then can South Africa hope to see an end to the rolling blackouts that have plagued the nation for far too long.
