Chapter Three – THEORIES OF ACCIDENT CAUSATION
TRUE OR FALSE: Place T or F in the space provided.
_____1. Theories of accident causation are used to predict and prevent
accidents.
_____2. Why accidents do happen is a concern for safety and health decision
makers.
_____3. An accident program does not have to take all the axioms into
account to be e ective.
_____4. The domino theory of accident causation is used to predict and
prevent accidents.
_____5. According to Heinrich’s Axioms on Industrial Safety, the plant
manager is the key person concerning industrial accidents.
_____6. The human factors theory of accident causation attributes accidents
to a chain of events caused by human error.
_____7. The accident/incident theory is an extension of the human factors
theory.
_____8. Epidemiological theory has focused on accidents caused by overload,
inappropriate response, and inappropriate activities.
_____9. The systems theory of accident causation views any stem in which an
accident might occur as a system with one component.
_____10. There is a strong correlation between obesity and injuries.
_____ 11. The Three Es of safety are environment, education, and edi1cation.
_____ 12. Human adaptation can cause more experienced workers to take
greater risks than newer employees.
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Circle the letter before the correct answer.
1. The finding of Herbert W. Heinrich’s 1920s study of the causes of
industrial accidents are which of the following?
A. Unsafe acts committed by fellow workers
B. Poor management
C. Lack of safety and health programs
D. Faulty machines and equipment
2. Three factors that lead to human error in the human factors theory are
which of the following?
A. Carelessness, training, and management
B. Carelessness, overload, and training
C. Pressure, motivation, and fatigue
D. Overload, inappropriate response, and inappropriate activities
3. Ergonomic traps, overload, and/or a decision to err lead to human error in
which of the following theories?
A. Human factors theory
B. Epidemiological theory
C. Accident/incident theory
D. Domino theory
4. The systems theory views a situation in which an accident might occur as
a system comprised of components in which of the following?
A. Person, machine, and motivation
B. Motivation, peer pressure, and overload
C. Person, machine, and environment
D. Attitude, risk, and motivation
5. In which of the following theories may an actual cause be combined with
two or more models?
A. Domino theory
B. Combination theory
C. Systems theory
D. Human factory theory
6. Controlling hazards through better product design or process improvement
is which of the Three Es of Safety?
A. Education
B. Engineering
C. Enforcement
D. Environment
7. Which of the following is NOT used by event-chain theories to explain
accident causation?
A. Multiple events that occur in a sequence
B. Events that involve human error
C. The Beria-Six theory
D. Events that are linked by direct relationships between causal failures
1. Explain the domino theory of accident causation, including its origin and
its impact on more modern theories.
2. What were the finding of Herbert W. Heinrich’s 1920s study of the causes
of industrial accidents?
3. List 1ve of Heinrich’s Axioms of Industrial Safety.
4. Explain the following concepts in the domino theory: preceding factor;
central factor.
5. What are the three broad factors that lead to human error in the human
factor theory? BrieDy explain each.
6. Explain the systems failure component of the accident/incident theory.
7. What are the key components of the epidemiological theory and how does
their interaction a ect accident causation?
8. Explain the systems theory of accident causation.
9. What impact do stressors have in the systems theory?
10. List 1ve factors to consider before making workplace decisions that
involve risk.
11. Explain the principles of behavior-based safety.
12. What is the role of the safety and health professional with regard to
handling employees who might be drug or alcohol abusers?
13. List the warning signs of clinical depression.
14. What must management do if it is serous about providing a safe and
healthy work environment for employees?
15. Explain the connections between obesity and injuries.