ABSTRACT
This chapter provides distinct methods, and examines their main strengths and weaknesses in light of the incident reporting system requirements. Methods underpinned by systems thinking are the dominant approach to incident analysis. In particular, three distinct methods are popular in both research and practice: Accimap, Causal Analysis using System Theory, and the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System. Incident analysis involves using a structured methodology to describe and understand the contributory factors involved in incidents. There is a need to provide practitioners with an appropriate methodological framework with which to report, analyze, and represent incidents. Incident reporting systems should be blame free, and avoid focusing exclusively on failures, or gaps in defences. The method was developed on the basis that task analytic methods are inadequate for analyzing incidents as they are not capable of modelling the systemic network of factors involved.
