Associations between task, training and social environmental factors and error types involved in rail incidents and accidents

Gemma J M Read; Michael G Lenné; Simon A Moss

doi:10.1016/j.aap.2012.02.014

Associations between task, training and social environmental factors and error types involved in rail incidents and accidents

Accid Anal Prev. 2012 Sep:48:416-22. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2012.02.014. Epub 2012 Mar 28.

Authors

Gemma J M Read¹, Michael G Lenné, Simon A Moss

Affiliation

¹ Monash University Accident Research Centre, Monash University, Victoria, Australia. [email protected]

PMID: 22664707
DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2012.02.014

Abstract

Rail accidents can be understood in terms of the systemic and individual contributions to their causation. The current study was undertaken to determine whether errors and violations are more often associated with different local and organisational factors that contribute to rail accidents. The Contributing Factors Framework (CFF), a tool developed for the collection and codification of data regarding rail accidents and incidents, was applied to a sample of investigation reports. In addition, a more detailed categorisation of errors was undertaken. Ninety-six investigation reports into Australian accidents and incidents occurring between 1999 and 2008 were analysed. Each report was coded independently by two experienced coders. Task demand factors were significantly more often associated with skill-based errors, knowledge and training deficiencies significantly associated with mistakes, and violations significantly linked to social environmental factors.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Accidents*
Australia
Causality
Humans
Observer Variation
Railroads*
Retrospective Studies
Safety Management
Social Environment*
Staff Development*
Task Performance and Analysis
Time Factors
Workload