A Human Error Approach to Aviation Accident Analysis: The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System

by Wiegmann,Douglas A.

• ISBN13: 9780754618737
• ISBN10: 0754618730
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2016-09-30
• Publisher: ROUTLEDGE

Summary

Human error is implicated in nearly all aviation accidents, yet most investigation and prevention programs are not designed around any theoretical framework of human error.Appropriate for all levels of expertise, the book provides the knowledge and tools required to conduct a human error analysis of accidents, regardless of operational setting (i.e. military, commercial, or general aviation). The book contains a complete description of the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), which incorporates James Reason's model of latent and active failures as a foundation. Widely disseminated among military and civilian organizations, HFACS encompasses all aspects of human error, including the conditions of operators and elements of supervisory and organizational failure.It attracts a very broad readership. Specifically, the book serves as the main textbook for a course in aviation accident investigation taught by one of the authors at the University of Illinois. This book will also be used in courses designed for military safety officers and flight surgeons in the U.S. Navy, Army and the Canadian Defense Force, who currently utilize theHFACS system during aviation accident investigations. Additionally, the book has been incorporated into the popular workshop on accident analysis and prevention provided by the authors at several professional conferences world-wide. The book is also targeted for students attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University which has satellite campuses throughout the world and offers a course in human factors accident investigation for many of its majors. In addition, the book will be incorporated into courses offered by Transportation Safety International and the Southern California Safety Institute. Finally, this book serves as an excellent reference guide for many safety professionals and investigators already in the field.

Author Biography

Douglas A. Wiegmann: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Scott A. Shappell: Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Table of Contents

List of Figures	p. vii
List of Tables	p. x
Acknowledgements	p. xi
Preface	p. xii
Errare Humanum Est--To Err is Human	p. 1
Aviation Safety Trends	p. 3
Some Reasons for Concern	p. 8
Human Error and Aviation Accidents	p. 10
Engineering Aspects of an Investigation	p. 12
Human Factors Aspects of an Investigation	p. 15
Conclusion	p. 18
Human Error Perspectives	p. 20
The Cognitive Perspective	p. 21
The Ergonomic Perspective	p. 26
The Behavioral Perspective	p. 30
The Aeromedical Perspective	p. 32
The Psychosocial Perspective	p. 34
The Organizational Perspective	p. 37
Conclusion	p. 44
The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS)	p. 45
Reason's Model of Accident Causation	p. 45
Elements of a Productive System	p. 45
Breakdown of a Productive System	p. 47
Strengths and Limitations of Reason's Model	p. 49
Defining the Holes in the Cheese	p. 50
Unsafe Acts of Operators	p. 50
Errors	p. 51
Violations	p. 55
Preconditions for Unsafe Acts	p. 56
Condition of Operators	p. 57
Personnel Factors	p. 60
Environmental Factors	p. 61
Unsafe Supervision	p. 63
Organizational influences	p. 66
Conclusion	p. 70
Aviation Case Studies using HFACS	p. 72
Sometimes Experience does Count	p. 73
Human Factors Analysis using HFACS	p. 75
Summary	p. 82
A World Cup Soccer Game They would Never See	p. 83
Human factors Analysis using HFACS	p. 86
Summary	p. 90
The Volcano Special	p. 91
Human Factors Analysis using HFACS	p. 94
Summary	p. 97
Conclusion	p. 98
Exposing the Face of Human Error	p. 99
Quantifying Proficiency within the Fleet	p. 106
Crew Resource Management Training: Success or Failure	p. 111
The Redheaded Stepchild of Aviation	p. 116
Conclusion	p. 121
Beyond Gut Feelings...	p. 122
Validity of a Framework	p. 123
Factors Affecting Validity	p. 124
Reliability	p. 124
Comprehensiveness	p. 132
Diagnosticity	p. 138
Usability	p. 145
Conclusion	p. 147
But What About...?	p. 149
References	p. 157
Index	p. 163
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