#5633
Mentioned in 5 episodes

Normal Accidents

Living with High-Risk Technologies
Book • 1984
In 'Normal Accidents', Charles Perrow argues that accidents in complex and tightly coupled systems are inevitable and cannot be entirely prevented.

He identifies three key conditions that make a system susceptible to such accidents: complexity, tight coupling, and catastrophic potential.

Perrow uses case studies from various industries, including nuclear power plants, aviation, and chemical processing, to illustrate how multiple and unexpected failures can interact and lead to major accidents.

The book challenges the conventional engineering approach to safety and highlights the role of organizational and management factors in technological failures.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 5 episodes

Mentioned by
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Kelly Starrett
, referencing Charles Perrault's work on complex systems.
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Mentioned by
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Tim Harford
when discussing how accidents happen.
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Mentioned by
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Tim Harford
when discussing how accidents happen.
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Referenced as a key influence, his sociological perspective on system failures informed the discussion on complexity and accidents.
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Mentioned by Dmitrys to provide context for the discussion on high reliability organizations.
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Mentioned by
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Tim Harford
as a key figure in understanding how accidents happen in complex systems.
Cautionary Tales

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