Causal System Scenario Tool for Near Miss Accident Analysis

Sociotechnical systems (STS) approach to the design of complex systems has been researched extensively. It stresses the fact that system design is never complete; it is an open-ended iterative process wherein designing never stops. With increasing technological advancement and diverse social issues emerging, the new dynamics, system approach has to be followed ingenuously. This Causal System Scenario Tool is applied in this study to a near-miss accident analysis for Indian railways. In particular, we look at the incidence of signal passing at danger (SPAD) by the train pilot due to various sociotechnical and organizational factors. We modify the system scenarios tool by proposing an additional causal system scenario tool. The contribution of this paper is threefold. Firstly, the STS analysis of SPAD is a novel approach. Secondly, STS has been applied in the context of developed economies but we use the Indian scenario, that is, in emerging economies. Thirdly, it contributes to the methodology by supplementing STS analysis with the causal system scenario tool, making it more robust. The first step maps the ‘as is situation’ and utilizes affinity diagram for plotting the issues on the framework. This is followed by replicating the process for the ‘to be situation’ and causal modelling for balancing the system is used, validating this tool. This approach can provide insights to the practitioners and policy makers in designing appropriate interventions to enhance safety of train travel.