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How organisations learn from safety incidents: a multifaceted problem

Dane Lukic (Caledonian Academy, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK)
Anoush Margaryan (Caledonian Academy, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK)
Allison Littlejohn (Caledonian Academy, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK)

Journal of Workplace Learning

ISSN: 1366-5626

Article publication date: 14 September 2010

3775

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to review current approaches to learning from health and safety incidents in the workplace. The aim of the paper is to identify the diversity of approaches and analyse them in terms of learning aspects.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was conducted searching for terms incident/accident/near misses/disaster/crisis modified with learning/training and safety. Shortlisted articles were analysed by questioning who is learning, what kind of learning process is undertaken, what type of knowledge is employed and the type of problem that these incidents addressed. Current approaches to learning from incidents were critically analysed and gaps identified.

Findings

Very few papers addressed all the envisaged aspects when developing their learning from incidents approaches. With support from literature, it was concluded that all the four perspectives, namely participants of learning (participation and inclusion), learning process (single loop, double learning), type of incident and its relation to learning (Cynefin complexity framework) and types of knowledge (conceptual, procedural, dispositional and locative) are important when deciding on an appropriate learning from incidents approach.

Research limitations/implications

The literature review focused on journal articles and identified keywords, which might have narrowed the scope. Further research is needed in identifying ways to embed the learning from incidents aspects in the organisation.

Practical implications

The framework developed could be useful by safety planners, safety managers, human resource managers and researchers in the area of organisational learning and safety.

Originality/value

The paper concludes by outlining key questions and proposing a framework that could be useful in systematically analysing and indentifying effective approaches to learning from incidents.

Keywords

Citation

Lukic, D., Margaryan, A. and Littlejohn, A. (2010), "How organisations learn from safety incidents: a multifaceted problem", Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 22 No. 7, pp. 428-450. https://doi.org/10.1108/13665621011071109

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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