Accident Investigation – are we reaching the Systemic Causes of Accidents?

Abstract

Large scale transport accidents are rare, yet carry the potential for significant loss of life and property. Investigations into the causes of such events are likely to come from many different, and sometimes competing, interest groups. Whilst the concept of multiple causality is well understood, are accident investigations able to beat the multiple competing interests, biases and influences that face them to reach the systemic causes of accidents? The paper considers fundamental challenges in accident investigations that go way beyond the initial technical challenge into practical, political and philosophical differences. As investigation capability increases, care must be taken to ensure that the increased threat of criminal litigation does not destroy the opportunities for learning created through good accident investigation.