Accident Investigation

Running head: accident and casual factor events 1

accident and casual factor events 7

Accident and Casual Factor Events

Wesley D. Herron

Waldorf University

Accident And Causal Factor Events

The causal factor and events chart describe a graphical and written description for the time sequence of events contributing the various events related to an accident. The construction of the causal factor and events factor chart helps investigators to conduct an in-depth research and identifying the root cause of accidents. The following are charts showing the various elements involved in event charting:

· Condition- This refers to the distinct state that facilitates event occurrence. a condition may be weather, equipment status, the health status of an employee as well as any other factor affecting an event

· Event-Refers to the point in time described by the occurrence of specific actions.

· Accident- describes the action, state and even condition where a system is not meeting one or more of its design objectives (Oakley, 2012). This includes real accidents and also near misses. This is the main focus of the analysis or even the evaluation.

· Primary event line- These are the main sequences of occurrence that resulted in the accidents. The primary event line gives the basic nature of an occurrence in a logical progression. However, it does not provide the contributing causes, and it often contains the accident but does not essentially end with an accident event. the primary event line comprises of both conditions and events

· Primary events and conditions- the conditions and events described make up the primary event line.

· Secondary event lines. These are a series of occurrences that lead to primary conditions and events. Secondary event lines enhance the development of the primary event line to show all the facilitating elements of an event. Causal factors are often found in secondary event lines, and they have both the events and conditions.

· Secondary events and conditions- these are conditions and events that make up the secondary event line.

Causal factors

These are key conditions and events that when eliminated could have prevented or reduced an accident and its effects (Oakley, 2012). Causal factors include equipment failure, human error and they include activities such as initiating event for an accident, failed safeguards, and having reasonable safeguards that were not provided.

Items of note

These are undesirable events, and conditions that have been identified in an analysis and they have to be addressed or corrected. However, the events did not contribute to the focus of the accident, and they are shown as separate boxes specifically outside the event chain.

Events and accidents are examined to identify the causes of their event and to decide the moves that must be made to avoid a repeat. It is basic that the accident investigators profoundly investigate into both the events and the conditions that make risky circumstances. Furthermore, the managerial control systems that let them grow with the goal that the root mischance causes can be recognized. Recognizable proof of these root causes requires understanding the collaboration of events and causal factors through an ordered chain of movement beginning with a starting occasion through to the last misfortune delivering the event. Vital factors in accident events have to be investigated to connect the root causes with the happenings of accidents and the existing conditions.

Causal Factors Analysis is an imperative segment of the accident examination techniques. It is developed as a stand-alone strategy and more intense when connected with different systems found in the Management Oversight and Risk tree program (Oakley, 2012). ECFA fills three fundamental needs in examinations. First, it helps the examination of causal chains and occasion successions. Second it gives a structure to coordinating examination discoveries, and finally, it helps communication both amid and on the fulfillment of the examination.

References

Oakley, J. S. (2012). Accident investigation techniques: Basic theories, analytical methods, and applications (2nd ed.). Des Plaines, IL: American Society of Safety Engineers.