Human and organisational factors in recent incidents

Human and organisational factors have contributed to the causes of several recent incidents, in a variety of safety critical industries.  A selection of incidents are included here - partly because they demonstrate that the issues are not unique to any one industry, and partly because detailed investigation reports are freely available.  There are important lessons for all major hazard industries detailed within each of these documents. 

• Buncefield, 11th December 2005
• THORP (Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant), 20th April 2005
• Texas City, 23rd March, 2005
• Space Shuttle Columbia, 1st February 2003

• Guidance On Investigating and Analysing Human and Organisational Factors Aspects of Incidents and Accidents
  Published By Energy Institute, London, May 2008. ISBN 978 0 85293 521 7. This publication is aimed at anyone who is involved in an incident/accident investigation or analysis - either as the lead investigator or part of the supporting team. It has been developed following an extensive review of the literature on accident investigation, as well as from interviews and discussion with users and developers of these investigation and analysis methods. HSE contributed both technically and financially to the development and dissemination of this publication.