Underlying causes to accidents are often a complex interaction between actors at different levels in a socio-technical system. Great efforts have been devoted to accident investigations, but do we gain a reasonable benefit from these achievements? In our research we want to reveal characteristics related to accident investigations and follow-up efforts that have impact on multilevel learning from accidents. Key issues are accident models, methods, investigation processes, dissemination of results and recommendations, and finally the impact on safety regulations and practices at different levels.

A great variety of accident investigation methods exists. Models and methods developed during the last decades satisfy the need for understanding of how industrial accidents occur and can be prevented under relatively stable conditions. But today’s modern technology and changing environment may bring about new accident mechanisms. Then, the need for more comprehensive and complex accident models and methods may arise.

The ROSS Gemini Centre has a long experience in contributing to public accident investigations in Norway. Some of the well-known investigations are:

• Aircraft accidents: Widerøe’s Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) at Namsos, 1993; Near miss (two Boeing 737) above Meråker,1997; The Mehamn accident, 1982 (re-investigation, 2005)
• Rail accidents: The Nordstrand accident 1993; The Åsta accident 2000.
• Marine accidents: The "Scandinavian Star" fire 1990; The grounding of the high speed craft "Sleipner" 1999.

Articles/papers

• Methods for accident investigation (2002) (in English!)
• Accident Investigation in the Norwegian Petroleum Industry – Status and Future Challenges (2007).
• Comparison of some selected methods for accident investigation (2004).

Contact

• Senior Scientist Ranveig Kviseth Tinmannsvik, SINTEF Safety Research