Coding ATC incident data using HFACS: Inter-coder consensus

► A reliability study was conducted on HFACS in the context of military air traffic control. ► The study tested inter-coder consensus in a real-world, small organisation environment. ► Two groups were tested on coding consensus: air traffic controllers and human factors specialists. ► Low consensus...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Safety science Vol. 49; no. 10; pp. 1365 - 1370
Main Author: Olsen, Nikki S.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Kidlington Elsevier India Pvt Ltd 01.12.2011
Elsevier
Subjects:
Air traffic control
Biological and medical sciences
HFACS
Human error
Incident classification
Inter-coder consensus
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Australia
Oceania
Human error
Incident classification
Inter-coder consensus
HFACS
Air traffic control
Mishap
Methodology
Traffic controller
Accident
Coding
Air traffic
Classification
Traffic safety
ISSN:0925-7535, 1879-1042
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:► A reliability study was conducted on HFACS in the context of military air traffic control. ► The study tested inter-coder consensus in a real-world, small organisation environment. ► Two groups were tested on coding consensus: air traffic controllers and human factors specialists. ► Low consensus was found at the category level of HFACS for both groups of participants. ► Doubt exists as to the reliability of HFACS taxonomic coding in real world small organisations. Reliability studies for coding contributing factors of incident reports in high hazard industries are rarely conducted and reported. Although the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) appears to have a larger number of such studies completed than most other systems doubt exists as the accuracy and comparability of results between studies due to aspects of methodology and reporting. This paper reports on a trial conducted on HFACS to determine its reliability in the context of military air traffic control (ATC). Two groups participated in the trial: one group comprised of specialists in the field of human factors and the other group comprised air traffic controllers. All participants were given standardised training via a self-paced workbook and then read 14 incident reports and coded the associated findings. The results show similarly low consensus for both groups of participants. Several reasons for the results are proposed associated with the HFACS model, the context within which incident reporting occurs in real organisations and the conduct of the studies.
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ISSN:0925-7535
1879-1042
DOI:10.1016/j.ssci.2011.05.007