ABSTRACT
One problem with using historical data as an approach is that conditions that produce dangerous situations and safety conditions are both complex and dynamic. The complexity refers to the interdependency of causes and that a specific constellation of conditions often has to be present for accidents to occur. Thus, it is often difficult to reduce accidents to simple cause and effect relationships. The social and technological context in which accidents occur is also in constant flux and can be regarded as ‘‘moving targets’’ that are difficult to grasp through traditional accident investigations.
