Organizational factors generally

There are multiple tools for the analysis of root causes of events. The analysis of root causes of hardware failure is well defined, the analysis of the root causes of human performance is well developed in general, but there are still some limitations in the tools to analyse management and organizational factors. In addition, sometimes the root cause analysis is not performed to the level of detail required to identify management and organizational problems. 

Management policies have an all pervasive effect on the activities of individuals at every level in the organization. The safety-related factors at the management level which have been considered in the organizational systems perspective in Chapter 2, will be summarized here to complete the general classification scheme of PIFs. 

In an attempt to understand the factors which lead to a successful and acceptable implementation of a robotic system, Molet et al. [2] have described the history of the implementation of a robotic installation in the steel industry in France. TTiey analysed the reactions of the various participants. Most of the difficulties encountered were related to the technological modifications required in the plant to install the robot and its peripheral equipment, and the labour and organizational changes which affected those most directly involved. TTiis experience provides some general lessons about the dos and do nots of rohotization (see also Besson [3] and Guest [4]). 

In recognition that most incidents have multiple root causes, the team is generally required to identify a minimum of three factors one from each of the following categories organizational, human, and material factors. 

One of the most important aspects which influences training transfer is the transfer climate. This is basically the environment into which the trained knowledge, behavior, and skills are taken. Smith-Crowe et al. (2003) showed how the transfer climate (both general organizational climate factors and safety-specific climate factors) can moderate the relationship between safety knowledge delivered... 

Additional system safety requirements and constraints, including those on operations and maintenance or upgrades will be used in the design of the safety control structure at the organizational and social system levels above the physical system. There is no one correct safety control structure what is practical and effective will depend greatly on cultural and other factors. Some general principles that apply to all safety control structures are described in chapter 13. These principles need to be combined with specific system safety requirements and constraints for the particular system involved to design the control structure. 

From this case-by-case list of specific factors that can press engineers to engage in misconduct, the following 10 general factors are distillable. They range from individual and technical to organizational and macrosocial in nature. 

Some databases have a life of their own because of organizational stove piping. Typically, time-based trending analysis of types of adverse events/causative factors is too general to identify cause and effect relationships. Without the development of normalized measurements, changes in mission and/or work load affect safety performance far more than do changes associated with the quality of safety management. 

Above and beyond organizational and procedural factors, corporate culture is further formed by the attitude of everyone within the organization. When executives, managers, and employees are all on the same page as far as basic corporate values are concerned, it becomes possible to have general agreement on the relationships that must be in place to accurately reflect the desired corporate culture. 

Nonfunctional If the persons or objects in the energy path were not there as a necessary part of the system, they are nonfunctional. This class generally includes visitors, passers-by, the great American public, intruders, and perhaps even organizational members with no requirement to be at the accident location when the accident occurred. Factors to be evaluated include... 

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