When an adverse event occurs, we often hear the cause described as a 'loss of situation awareness.' This phrase by itself fails to yield the actual contributory factors that led to the event, limiting our ability to learn from the incident.
An experienced CCR diver nearly passed out due to low loop pO2 after missing a key pre-dive check. This blog uses Causal Reasoning to understand the situation, exploring human factors, system design, and performance-shaping conditions, rather than focusing on counterfactuals and the individual.
Dive deeper into system safety and see how small mistakes can lead to big accidents. Drawing on real-life incidents—including the tragic Linnea Mills case—discover how we can strengthen teamwork, adopt just culture, and embrace best practices for safer, more resilient dives.
The way we describe events shapes how we learn from them. "The diver ran out of gas" invites blame, while "the gas ran out" sparks deeper questions. In high-risk environments, precise, non-judgmental language fosters learning and safety. Shift your focus from fault to context—and improve outcomes!
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