I do agree that, in my opinion, the Swiss cheese metaphor is unhelpful for understanding accident causation.
On the flip side, the Swiss cheese metaphor is very helpful for understanding risk management. Each element of risk management is imperfect (has holes), so it is best to layer them. Driver's education + minimum driver's age + minimum standards
for breaks + speed limits = good risk management.
When an accident happens, there are various reasons that may or may not correspond to a failure of a risk management element (cheese layer). Perhaps a ball bearing failed.
Pete Reinhardt, Yale EHS
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> on behalf of Jessica Martin <jessica.a.martin**At_Symbol_Here**UCONN.EDU>
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Date: Friday, April 30, 2021 at 1:28 PM
To: "DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU" <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Is Swiss cheese helpful for understanding accident causation?
Hello all,
I just listened to a very interesting episode of "The Safety of Work" podcast. The two researchers/practitioners (Rae and Proven) discussed the Swiss cheese model and asked whether it was a helpful metaphor for understanding accident causation
- and the two people discussing it DISAGREED on the answer :).
I invite everyone to have a listen to the podcast if you are interested, and then reply on this thread with what you think about it. Have you used the Swiss cheese model in any of your work? Did you find it helpful? Did you find it simplistic
and meaningless? Have you actually read any of Reason's work behind the model? What do you think of what Rae and Provan had to say about it? And who is right? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Best,
Jessica A. Martin
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Joint Safety Team
Pinkhassik Group, Department of Chemistry
University of Connecticut
323-327-3974
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