Routes to failure: Analysis of 41 civil aviation accidents from the Republic of China using the human factors analysis and classification system

The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS, Wiegmann & Shappell, 2003) was developed as an analytical framework for the investigation of the role of human factors in aviation accidents. HFACS is based upon Reason's model (1990) of human error in which active failures are associated with the performance of front -line operators in complex systems and latent failures are characterized as inadequacies which lie dormant within a system for a long time, and are only trigge red when combined with other factors to breach the system's defenses. In this research HFACS was used to analyze accidents occurring in civil aviation aircraft in the Republic of China (ROC). Forty-one accident reports from the Aviation Safety Council (A SC) were analyzed. Relationships in the HFACS framework were identified linking fallible decisions at higher (organizational) levels with supervisory practices, thereby creating the preconditions for unsafe acts and hence indirectly impairing the performance of pilots.

Download Full-text

Human Error and Commercial Aviation Accidents: An Analysis Using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System

Human Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ◽

10.1518/001872007x312469 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 49 (2) ◽

pp. 227-242 ◽

Cited By ~ 192

Author(s):

Scott Shappell ◽

Cristy Detwiler ◽

Kali Holcomb ◽

Carla Hackworth ◽

Albert Boquet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Factors ◽

Classification System ◽

Human Error ◽

Commercial Aviation ◽

Aviation Accidents ◽

Factors Analysis ◽

Human Factors Analysis

Download Full-text

Improved HFACS on Human Factors of Construction Accidents: A China Perspective

Advances in Civil Engineering ◽

10.1155/2018/4398345 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gui Ye ◽

Qin Tan ◽

Xiaoli Gong ◽

Qingting Xiang ◽

Yuhe Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Factors ◽

Construction Industry ◽

Classification System ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

Safety Performance ◽

Human Errors ◽

Aviation Accidents ◽

Factors Analysis ◽

Critical Paths ◽

Human Factors Analysis

Human errors are one of the major contributors of accidents. In order to improve the safety performance, human errors have to be addressed. Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) has been developed as an analytical framework for the investigation of the role of human errors in aviation accidents. However, the HFACS framework did not reveal the relationships describing the effect among diverse factors at different levels. Similarly, its interior structure was not exposed. As a result, it is difficult to identify critical paths and key factors. Therefore, an improved Human Factors Analysis and Classification System in the construction industry (I-HFACS) was developed in this study. An analytical I-HFACS mechanism was designed to interpret how activities and decisions made by upper management lead to operator errors and subsequent accidents. Critical paths were highlighted. Similarly, key human factors were identified, that is, “regulatory factors,” “organizational process,” “supervisory violations,” “adverse spiritual state,” “skill underutilization,” “skill-based errors,” and “violations.” Findings provided useful references for the construction industry to improve the safety performance.

Download Full-text