Reconstructing human contributions to accidents: the new view on error and performance

Area of Science:

• Human Factors and Ergonomics
• Accident Investigation
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Accidents are frequently attributed to human error, necessitating effective reconstruction methods.
• Traditional accident investigation often adopts a retrospective outsider perspective, limiting understanding.
• Hindsight bias can impede objective analysis of human contributions to accidents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how investigators can reconstruct the role of human contributions to accidents.
• To present a method for understanding human actions and assessments within their original context.
• To help investigators avoid hindsight bias in accident reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• Adopting the 'new view' of human error, which emphasizes understanding actions within the flow of events.
• Reconstructing the context in which human assessments and actions were made.
• Analyzing methods for reconstructing individuals' unfolding mindsets during an event.

Main Results:

• The 'new view' allows for the integration of human assessments and actions into the event sequence.
• Understanding the rationale behind decisions made at the time is crucial for accurate reconstruction.
• Investigative methods can be adapted to reveal why actions and assessments made sense to individuals.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the 'why' behind human actions in accidents is critical for prevention.
• The proposed method aids investigators in avoiding hindsight bias.
• This approach facilitates a more accurate and insightful reconstruction of human contributions to accidents.