ACCIDENT CAUSATION

AND
INVESTIGATION
TECHNIQUES
 THEORIES OF
ACCIDENT CAUSATION
DOMINO THEORY
by HERBERT W. HEINRICH
 HUMAN FACTORS
THEORY

OVERLOAD INAPPROPRIATE INAPPROPRIATE

RESPONSE ACTIVITIES
 ACCIDENT/INCIDENT
THEORY
by DAN PETERSEN

OVERLOAD ERGONOMIC TRAPS DECISION

TO ERROR
HUMAN ERROR

SYSTEMS
FAILURE ACCIDENT

INJURY/DAMAGE
 EPIDEMIOLOGICAL
THEORY

PREDISPOSED SITUATIONAL
CHARACTERISTICS CHARACTERISTICS

CAN CAUSE OR
PREVENT ACCIDENT
CONDITIONS
SYSTEMS THEORY
COMBINATION THEORY
• Accidents may/may not fall under
any one model
• Result from factors in several models.
• One model cannot be applied to all
accidents
BEHAVIORAL THEORY
• Often referred to as behavior-based
safety (BBS)
• 7 basic principles of BBS
– Intervention
– Identification of internal factors
– Motivation to behave in the
desired manner
– Focus on the positive
consequences of appropriate
behavior
– Application of the scientific
method
– Integration of information
– Planned interventions
INVESTIGATION
TECHNIQUES
METHODS OF INVESTIGATION
1.PREDICT
2.PLAN
3.COLLECT DATA
4.ANALYZE
5.REFORMULATE