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Mental causal models of incidents communicated in licensee event reports in a process industry

Salo, Ilkka LU and Svenson, O (2003) In Cognition, Technology & Work 5(3). p.211-217
Abstract
The present investigation describes some mental causal models used in incident reports. Some of the models (e.g., single-cause models) are simpler than others (e.g., causal-tree models). The models are also associated with different ways of explaining an incident or accident and with different recommendations for increasing the safety of a system.

In study 1, incident reports from Swedish nuclear power plants known to use human or organisational factors were analysed. The analysis showed that the most frequent model was a simple single-cause model and that the remainder were usually two-step models leading to a reported event. Multiple cause and more complex models were less frequent.

Study 2 analysed all licensee event... (More)
The present investigation describes some mental causal models used in incident reports. Some of the models (e.g., single-cause models) are simpler than others (e.g., causal-tree models). The models are also associated with different ways of explaining an incident or accident and with different recommendations for increasing the safety of a system.

In study 1, incident reports from Swedish nuclear power plants known to use human or organisational factors were analysed. The analysis showed that the most frequent model was a simple single-cause model and that the remainder were usually two-step models leading to a reported event. Multiple cause and more complex models were less frequent.

Study 2 analysed all licensee event reports (including those reports not related to human organisational factors) from four reactors assessed by regulators during the year. The results showed that single-cause and two-step accident models were more frequent than more complex models. The analyses also revealed that different detection modes were related to different models. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Accident, Incident, Nuclear power, Process industry, Risk analysis
in
Cognition, Technology & Work
volume
5
issue
3
pages
211 - 217
publisher
Springer
ISSN
1435-5566
DOI
10.1007/s10111-003-0121-3
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8512ded1-c69a-4761-8062-ae1a9ca1fece (old id 806320)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 07:16:07
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:48:18
@article{8512ded1-c69a-4761-8062-ae1a9ca1fece,
  abstract     = {{The present investigation describes some mental causal models used in incident reports. Some of the models (e.g., single-cause models) are simpler than others (e.g., causal-tree models). The models are also associated with different ways of explaining an incident or accident and with different recommendations for increasing the safety of a system.<br/><br>
In study 1, incident reports from Swedish nuclear power plants known to use human or organisational factors were analysed. The analysis showed that the most frequent model was a simple single-cause model and that the remainder were usually two-step models leading to a reported event. Multiple cause and more complex models were less frequent. <br/><br>
Study 2 analysed all licensee event reports (including those reports not related to human organisational factors) from four reactors assessed by regulators during the year. The results showed that single-cause and two-step accident models were more frequent than more complex models. The analyses also revealed that different detection modes were related to different models.}},
  author       = {{Salo, Ilkka and Svenson, O}},
  issn         = {{1435-5566}},
  keywords     = {{Accident; Incident; Nuclear power; Process industry; Risk analysis}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{211--217}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Cognition, Technology & Work}},
  title        = {{Mental causal models of incidents communicated in licensee event reports in a process industry}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10111-003-0121-3}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10111-003-0121-3}},
  volume       = {{5}},
  year         = {{2003}},
}