Human Factors Safety Management Issues in Marine and Pipeline Accident Investigations

Abstract

Implementing a safety management system (SMS) in commercial maritime or pipeline operations is a proactive way to identify, assess, and mitigate safety risks prior to getting underway or commencing operations. An effective SMS is tailored to a specific company or vessel through standard procedures or processes to ensure compliance with applicable regulations, and to proactively identify and mitigate emergent safety issues.Examination of an organization’s SMS that was in place prior to an accident is an integral part of the transportation accident investigation process for marine and pipeline modes. Human factors and human performance are critical inputs to an effective SMS. Processes to mitigate risk and prevent human error are often captured in a company’s SMS. When casualties do occur, the SMS provides a critical insight from which to begin gathering and analyzing evidence.Accident investigation results, including the probable cause, contributing factors, and safety recommendations, can prove useful for continuous improvement of the organization and throughout the industry. In addition, lessons learned may have larger implications across transportation modes and impact the public at large.

Keywords: Safety Management Systems, Marine, Pipeline, Investigations, NTSB, Human Factors

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005297