ABSTRACT
Can we predict accidents? In all engineering systems that humans invented and
use, errors and accidents occur. The errors are recorded as outcomes (failures, accidents, deaths, events, injuries, losses, and the like) and are the subject of investigation for the assignment of cause and blame, and of fiscal, corporate and personal liability and responsibility. They can themselves cause expensive inquiries, regulations, and litigation. Almost invariably, the major contribution to the cause of failure is from human error within the engineering system and its operational control functions. It arises from interactions within the entire homo-technological system, of which the human is just a part, but a vital part.
