Factors affecting learning from incidents: A cross-industry review

Abstract

The recurrence of accidents implies that many industries have failed to fully learn from the past. It calls for the implementation of effective incident learning that may help prevent similar incidents in the future. The identification of the critical factors that facilitate or hinder learning from incidents (LFI) is essential. This study aims to develop a comprehensive LFI framework that can serve as a valuable guide for effectively implementing LFI practices in the industrial settings. To achieve this aim, the study presents a comprehensive literature review of factors facilitate or hinder LFI in all industrial settings. Through a systematic review of relevant safety literature published in peer-reviewed journals, a total of 42 facilitators and 28 hindrances to LFI were identified from reviewing 76 selected empirical studies. These studies were conducted in the construction, mining, transportation, and other sectors. An LFI framework was presented. The framework comprises four categories: learning participants (PA), learning input (IN), learning process (PR), and learning context (CO). Facilitators and hindrances within each category were identified accordingly. The study also discussed factors that facilitate or impede multilevel LFI at both the individual and organizational levels. The findings of the study would deepen the researchers' and practitioners’ understanding of how to learn from incidents by reinforcing the LFI facilitators and mitigating hurdles. This study also offers an opportunity for industrial settings to learn the LFI practices from other sectors and implement the lessons learned within/across companies and sectors. Based the proposed LFI framework and checklist, this study would also provide a sound foundation with researchers for developing empirical studies on this topic in the future.