Accidents multiple causation

Explain the basic premise of any multiple causation accident theory. 

Multiple Causation Accident Theories Multiple Factors Theory... 

One variation of the Multiple Causation Theory is R. J. Firenzie s Theory of Accident Causation. Firenzie s theory is based on interaction among three components person, machine, and environment. Human variables of information, decisions, and perception of risks combine with machine hazards and environmental factors affecting the likelihood of an accident. 

In any accident investigation, consider the aspect of multiple causation. The contributing factors surrounding an accident, as well as the unsafe acts and unsafe conditions, should be considered. If only the unsafe acts and conditions are considered when investigating an accident, little will be accomplished toward any accident prevention effort because the root causes still remain. This leaves the possibility for an accident to recur. The root causes are items such as management policies and decisions, and the personal and environmental factors that could prevent accidents when corrected. 

The theory of multiple causation must be considered when investigating accidents. 

Today, we know that behind every accident there he maty contributing factors, causes, and subcauses. The theory of multiple causation is that these factors combine together in random fashion, causing accidents. If this is tme, om investigation of accidents ought to identify some of these. 

Let us briefly look at the contrast between the multiple causation theory and om too rarrow interpretation of the domino theory. We shah look at a common accident a person falls off a stepladder. If we inveshgate this accident using some cmrent accident investigahon forms, we are asked to idenhfy one act or one condihon ... 

Let us look at the same accident in terms of multiple causation. Multiple causation asks what ate some of the contributing factors surrounding this incident We might ask ... 

We know that accidents are caused by a combination of factors rather than simply by carelessness and/or unsafe things . Multiple causation is an accepted principle, which must be responded to in kind. There is rarely a simple fix ... 

This chapter delves into the causation of the loss of a US. Army Black Hawk helicopter and all its occupants from friendly fire by a US. Air Force F-15 over northern Iraq in 1994. This example was chosen because the controversy and multiple viewpoints and books about the shootdown provide the information necessary to create most of the STAMP analysis. Accident reports often leave out important causal information (as did the official accident report in this case). Because of the nature of the accident, most of the focus is on operations. Appendix B presents an example of an accident where engineering development plays an important role. Social issues involving public health are the focus of the accident analysis in appendix C. 

Different authors have proposed multiple factor models to help safety practitioners think through accident causation. Grose proposed a model involving four Ms man, machine, media, and management (see Figure 3-2). Obviously, Man refers to people. Machine includes any kind of... 

Heinrich recognized that other studies on accident causation identified both unsafe acts and unsafe conditions as causal factors with almost equal frequency. Those studies produced results different from the 88-10-2 ratios. For example, the National Safety Council s Accident Prevention Manual for Industrial Operations Administration and Programs, 8th ed., cites two historical studies establishing that most accidents have multiple causes. 

The principle of multiple causes states that accidents, near miss incidents, and other problems are seldom, if ever, the result of a single cause. This pertains to near miss incident investigation, which in itself is another vitally important criterion of any safety system. If the investigation system is not structured and does not follow the loss causation sequence and determines both the immediate and root causes of the event, the system is basically worthless. 

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