Trajectory of Accident Opportunity
Active errors are unsafe acts that occur at the front line of operations, and the consequences are felt immediately e.g. a truck driver playing a violin whilst driving. Latent errors are associated with management and design, and its effects lay dormant for long periods of time. There is much potential in everyday life for latent errors to occur. - Task demands - time pressure, high workload - Work Environment - distractions, interruptions - Individual Capabilities - unfamiliarity with task, not trained properly - Human Nature - stress, habit, assumptions, biases. The trajectory of accident opportunity, which explains that accidents are caused by a combination of latent errors, active errors, triggering events and a failure of defense systems. Only a hazard that passes through a hole in each of these layers lead to a failure. For example, Latent Error - management deciding to not service their trucks as often Active Error - truck driver playing the violin Triggering Event - atypical condition, such as rain Defense System Failure