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Salmon PM, Hulme A, Walker GH, Waterson P, Stanton NA. Towards a unified model of accident causation: refining and validating the systems thinking safety tenets. ERGONOMICS 2023; 66:644-657. [PMID: 35902801 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2022.2107709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The systems thinking tenets were developed based on a synthesis of contemporary accident causation theory, models and approaches and encapsulate 15 features of complex systems that interact to create both safety and adverse events. Whilst initial testing provided supportive evidence, the tenets have not yet been subject to formal validation. This article presents the findings from a three-round Delphi study undertaken to refine and validate the tenets and assess their suitability for inclusion in a unified model of accident causation. Participants with expertise in accident causation and systems thinking provided feedback on the tenets and associated definitions until an acceptable level of consensus was achieved. The results reduced the original 15 tenets to 14 and 10 were identified as important to include in unified model of accident causation. The refined systems thinking tenets are presented along with future research directions designed to facilitate their use in safety practice.Practitioner summary: This article presents a refined and validated set of systems thinking tenets which describe features of complex systems that interact to create adverse events. The tenets can be used by practitioners to proactively identify safety leading indicators and contributory factors during adverse event analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Salmon
- Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Adam Hulme
- Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Guy H Walker
- Centre for Sustainable Road Freight, Heriot-Watt University, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Waterson
- Human Factors and Complex Systems Group, Design School, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
| | - Neville A Stanton
- Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Transportation Research Group, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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Hulme A, Stanton NA, Walker GH, Waterson P, Salmon PM. Complexity theory in accident causation: using AcciMap to identify the systems thinking tenets in 11 catastrophes. ERGONOMICS 2021; 64:821-838. [PMID: 33357083 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2020.1869321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The quest to explain and understand the cause of accidents is both ever-present and ongoing amongst the safety science community. In an attempt to advance the theory and science of accident causation, researchers have recently formalised a set of '15 systems thinking tenets' that cover the conditions and characteristics of work systems that are believed to contribute to the cause of accidents. The purpose of this study was to attempt to identify the systems thinking tenets across a range of different systems and accidents using the Accident Mapping (AcciMap) method. The findings suggest that the tenets can be attributed to play a role in accident causation, however as a result of this process, the capability of AcciMap has been brought into question. Implications and directions for future research are described. Practitioner Summary: This study is an extension of previous work that suggested there was a need to test for the 'systems thinking tenets of accident causation' in a multi-incident dataset. We used AcciMap to evaluate whether it has the capability to support ongoing accident analysis activities in ergonomics research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Hulme
- Faculty of Arts, Business and Law, Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
| | - Neville A Stanton
- Faculty of Arts, Business and Law, Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Transportation Research Group, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Guy H Walker
- Faculty of Arts, Business and Law, Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Road Freight, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Waterson
- Human Factors and Complex Systems Group, Design School, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
| | - Paul M Salmon
- Faculty of Arts, Business and Law, Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Transportation Research Group, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavan Lintern
- Monash University Accident Research Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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