Systemic Failures and Underlying Causes-An Analysis of the Heavy Vehicle Socio-Technical System

[摘要] The heavy vehicle transport industry has been described as one of the most dangerousoccupations with a high death rate. It is part of a complex socio-technical system withmany interacting parts which can adversely influence a drivers decision leading up toa crash. Drivers continued to be blamed for crashes without the underlying causesbeing identified as investigation methods do not take these causes into consideration.This paper explains the complexity of the socio-technical system and suggests it isnecessary to look beyond a driver’s behavior and focus on the actions and inactionsof other actors that have influenced the driver’s behavior to understand what has causeda crash.

[关键词] Socio-technical System;Drivers;Heavy Vehicle;Blame;Crashes;Underlying Causes