The evolution of the HFACS method used in analysis of marine accidents: A review

The importance of accident investigations carried out in every field where operators play a vital role is increasingly recognised. Many researchers argue that understanding accident formation is the most important way to prevent future disasters. In this research, an analysis of the modified Human Factor Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) structures developed for use in the analysis of marine accidents was conducted. These structures include HFACS-PV (Passenger Vessels), HFACS-MA (Maritime Accidents), HFACS-Coll (Collisions), HFACS-SIBCI (ship collision accidents between assisted ships and icebreakers in ice-covered waters) and HFACS-Ground (Groundings). In this study, revisions in HFACS structures were examined. It was found that the accident factors were classified at different levels to facilitate the application of the original HFACS framework. The first of the remarkable differences among the basically developed methods is the level of external factors (first level), where the accident factors arising from national and international rules are classified. The second is the level of operational conditions (last level). It has been observed that the precondition for the unsafe acts level has been revised in all methods examined. This study will guide researchers in choosing an HFACS structure suitable for the area they will study, as well as revealing different aspects of the modified methods examined in marine accident analysis. •In this study, a number of modified Human Factor Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) methods developed to analyse marine accidents were examined.•In the study, different and similar aspects of the classifications made in HFACS were revealed, and different perspectives in a number of applications were reviewed.•This study was conducted to provide researchers with the selection of a specific HFACS structure with the associated content in marine accident analysis.