Having empathy and being able to empathize refer to the ability to understand, view or feel the experiences and perspectives of others. In a work context, the ability of different actors to empathize with others can have positive effects in the design, organization and operations of complex systems. This article explores the value of empathy within safety-critical work systems and discusses the role of empathy as an entry point for user-centred approaches. We use the maritime domain to illustrate why developing empathic skills and knowledge has relevance and added-value for (1) maritime design and designers, and (2) future remote maritime operations and operators of unmanned vessels. We detail our emerging approaches and methods for developing empathy as a tool to enhance interdisciplinary understanding and knowledge sharing with the overall goal of improving Human Factors utilization in applied work contexts.
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