Author Information

Shaddi AbdalaFollow

Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?

Undergraduate

Project Type

individual

Campus

Daytona Beach

Authors' Class Standing

Shaddi Abdala, Junior

Lead Presenter's Name

Shaddi Abdala

Faculty Mentor Name

Flavio Antonio Coimbra Mendonca, MBA; Ph.D.

Abstract

The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) is a human factors accident analysis framework that facilitates the investigation of active failures by frontline employees as well as organizational factors upstream in the organization. The HFACS addresses human errors and violations and the human factors underpinning them at four levels: unsafe acts of operators; preconditions for unsafe acts; unsafe supervision; and organizational influences. This tool has been utilized by safety investigators in the aftermath of aircraft accidents to explore how latent conditions that stemmed in the upper levels of an organization contributed to errors and/or violations by frontline personnel resulting in the accident. Findings by safety investigators utilizing the HFACS have emphasized the importance of identifying and mitigating safety hazards in the upper levels of an organization to prevent future accidents from occurring. In this study, Southwest Airlines flight 1248 will be analyzed using the HFACS model and will demonstrate the importance of this framework as a tool utilized to facilitate the investigation of the underlying causes of human errors and violations. Moreover, it helps accident investigators develop more effective safety interventions designed to mitigate latent conditions and unsafe acts, greatly improving aviation safety. Findings of this study are expected to suggest that active failures by the flight crew that contributed to the mishap were a consequence of deeper organizational problems, such as an unhealthy safety culture and failure of upper level management to provide the pilots with consistent training.

Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?

No

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Southwest Airlines Flight 1248: A Case Study Using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System Framework

The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) is a human factors accident analysis framework that facilitates the investigation of active failures by frontline employees as well as organizational factors upstream in the organization. The HFACS addresses human errors and violations and the human factors underpinning them at four levels: unsafe acts of operators; preconditions for unsafe acts; unsafe supervision; and organizational influences. This tool has been utilized by safety investigators in the aftermath of aircraft accidents to explore how latent conditions that stemmed in the upper levels of an organization contributed to errors and/or violations by frontline personnel resulting in the accident. Findings by safety investigators utilizing the HFACS have emphasized the importance of identifying and mitigating safety hazards in the upper levels of an organization to prevent future accidents from occurring. In this study, Southwest Airlines flight 1248 will be analyzed using the HFACS model and will demonstrate the importance of this framework as a tool utilized to facilitate the investigation of the underlying causes of human errors and violations. Moreover, it helps accident investigators develop more effective safety interventions designed to mitigate latent conditions and unsafe acts, greatly improving aviation safety. Findings of this study are expected to suggest that active failures by the flight crew that contributed to the mishap were a consequence of deeper organizational problems, such as an unhealthy safety culture and failure of upper level management to provide the pilots with consistent training.

 

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