A classification system for causes of occupational accidents for use in preventive strategies.

A comprehensive classification system, which allowed operational analysis of the events preceding accidents, was applied to the analysis of information surrounding the occurrence of all traumatic work-related fatalities in Australia in 1982-1984. The coded information included factors immediately antecedent to the accident leading to the fatality and factors removed in time which contributed to the occurrence of the accident. The complex network of events leading up to the accident, their interrelationships, and their relative contribution to causing the accident were examined. The results provide information about the use of accident analysis for the formulation of preventive strategies.