The underlying causes of accidents

Area of Science:

• Safety Science
• Risk Management
• Accident Investigation

Background:

• Numerous theories explain accident causation, often intricate and multifactorial.
• Identifying all contributing factors can be challenging, with a tendency to focus on apparent causes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a simplified framework for understanding accident causation.
• To categorize accident causes into two primary types for analytical clarity.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of existing accident causation theories.
• Development of a dichotomous classification system for accident causes.

Main Results:

• Accident causes can be broadly divided into immediate (primary) and indirect (secondary) categories.
• This classification provides a more straightforward approach to analyzing complex accident scenarios.

Conclusions:

• The immediate/indirect classification simplifies the analysis of accident causation.
• This framework aids in identifying and addressing a wider range of contributing factors in accident investigations.