Barriers and Accident Prevention

'Every twenty years or so, a book comes along that profoundly influences the way we think about the breakdown of complex systems. Charles Perrow's Normal Accidents (1984) was one; this book will be another. Beautifully written, immensely scholarly and rich in illustrations, it both challenges the received wisdom about accident aetiology and (unlike Perrow) offers a viable way forward. This book establishes Erik Hollnagel as the leading thinker in this field.' Professor James Reason, University of Manchester, UK 'This important, thought-provoking book should be required reading for accident prevention professionals and anyone concerned with enhancing system safety. The discussion of barriers, and the strengths and weaknesses of three types of accident models - accented by easy to understand diagrams and tables - provides background for the insightful description of the complexities of the increasingly significant systemic model and its proactive implications for designing systems for accident prevention.' Marilyn Sue Bogner, Ph.D., Institute for the Study of Human Error, Bethesda, USA '... the contents are up to the expected high standard of this prolific publishing house.' The ROSPA Occupational Safety & Health Journal 'This work is aimed at those at the top of the safety management profession. It should be required reading for those who find themselves in the position of the Conan Doyle character quoted by the author - "I've got my facts pretty clear ... all I want now is to get to know what they all mean." ' Health and Safety at Work, October 2005 'This is an extremely well-written and convincing book that will fundamentally challenge the views of many readers and should engage and stimulate all readers. Interesting and often lesser-known case studies and accounts are provided throughout to illustrate the points made and practical approaches are outlined to respond to Hollnagel's fundamental criticisms of the status quo. As must be expected, thi