Extracts from Dekker’s work about the ontological and empirical shakiness of ‘root causes’. I’ve taken material from two versions of The Field Guide to Understanding Human Error (Investigations). In Dekker’s view: · “There is no ‘root’ cause” (or ‘root causes’) · Given the multiple angles and interactions in complex systems, you “can really construct “causes” from everywhere”… Continue reading “there is no such thing as a root cause [and therefore] there is technically no such thing as the beginning of a mishap” — Dekker
Workplace Psychosocial Factors and Their Association With Musculoskeletal Disorders
More data on the links between workplace psychosocial factors and injury – this time specifically on musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). 47 studies met inclusion. Findings: · The most common MSDs investigated were lower back pain, neck and shoulder pain, and upper extremity symptoms and disorders · Workplace psychosocial factors that were statistically significant were support, collaboration, job control,… Continue reading Workplace Psychosocial Factors and Their Association With Musculoskeletal Disorders
Failing audits and ‘comprehensively shallow’ evaluations of system performance
Do (some) audits focus too greatly on paperwork? Or is the paperwork focus a strength of audits? In our previous paper, we reviewed 44 major accident reports to assess the accident inquiries’ descriptions of pre-accident audit performance. We argued that: “many audits exhibited a ‘comprehensive shallowness,’ delving excessively into minor system details and paperwork rather… Continue reading Failing audits and ‘comprehensively shallow’ evaluations of system performance
Work injuries and mental health challenges: A meta-analysis of the bidirectional relationship
This meta-analysis investigated the relationship between work injuries and mental health challenges. 139 studies included. Background: · Mental health challenge is defined as prolonged deviations from the state of an individual’s psychological well-being · “These deviations manifest as noticeable shifts in cognition, emotion, or behavior resulting in psychological distress” · “various studies have documented that work injuries are… Continue reading Work injuries and mental health challenges: A meta-analysis of the bidirectional relationship
Night shift work and indicators of cardiovascular risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This may interest people – a meta-analysis and systematic review of the effects night shift work has on markers of cardiovascular risk. Not a summary – you can read the full open access paper. 81 studies met inclusion criteria – 14 cohort and 67 cross-sectional. Findings: · “Night shift work is associated with increased inflammation · “HDL-C… Continue reading Night shift work and indicators of cardiovascular risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Co-exposures to physical and psychosocial work factors increase the occurrence of workplace injuries among French care workers
Psychosocial and physical workplace exposures found to be co-related in workplace injury (WI), according to this study. It’s one of heaps of studies highlighting the interactions between psychosocial factors and physical and psychological injury. E.g. Physical exposures were on their own were not great predictors of self-declared injury, and it was the interactions that best… Continue reading Co-exposures to physical and psychosocial work factors increase the occurrence of workplace injuries among French care workers
Root-Causal Factors: Uncovering the Hows & Whys of Incidents
This 2016 article from Fred Manuele explores some facets of causality in investigations. It’s based mainly on two key sources: Hollnagel’s 2004 ‘Barriers and accident prevention’ and Dekker’s 2006 ‘Field Guide to Understanding Human Error’. Won’t be much new for most but has some nice arguments from authors like Hollnagel, Dekker and Leveson. First he… Continue reading Root-Causal Factors: Uncovering the Hows & Whys of Incidents
Compendium: Sleep & Fatigue Risk Management
Here’s an assortment of papers on sleep and occupational fatigue. Focus is on articles I’ve summarised or full-text I could locate. A few themes are covered: Feel free to shout a coffee if you’d like to support the growth of my site: Sleep & Fatigue https://www.academia.edu/30709111/Fatigue_proofing_A_new_approach_to_reducing_fatigue_related_risk_using_the_principles_of_error_management https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/pdf/10.5664/jcsm.9512 https://www.academia.edu/7558212/A_Model_to_Predict_Work_Related_Fatigue_Based_on_Hours_of_Work https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2021.106398 https://www.academia.edu/115005821/Effects_of_fatigue_on_surgeon_performance_and_surgical_outcomes_a_systematic_review https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6495463_The_dynamics_of_neurobehavioural_recovery_following_sleep_loss https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article-abstract/20/4/267/2732104?redirectedFrom=PDF https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49656992_Research_needs_and_opportunities_for_reducing_the_adverse_safety_consequences_of_fatigue https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/eng-2022-0411/pdf https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/indhealth/47/5/47_5_518/_pdf… Continue reading Compendium: Sleep & Fatigue Risk Management
What topics do you want to see next for research compendiums?
What topics do you want to see for research compendiums? Let me know here. Next up are:1) fatigue & sleep2) Nancy Leveson’s work3) SIFs/HiPos/fatal accidents4) Systems thinking5) an ode to Deming (but struggling to find full-text articles…) What next ? If psychosocial, then what specific elements? (It’s such a vast domain…) Post a comment here:… Continue reading What topics do you want to see next for research compendiums?
Death at Dreamworld: Ten pathways to disaster and failure to learn
This paper from Sarah Gregson and Michael Quinlan applies his ten pathways framework to the Dreamworld accident in 2016, killing four people. I’ve skipped a lot. [** Yes, hindsight and outcome biases are present with this type of analysis, as with my own auditing work. Doesn’t mean there isn’t value in exploring learning opportunities, but… Continue reading Death at Dreamworld: Ten pathways to disaster and failure to learn
SafetyInsights.org 