Novel Accident Reconstruction Methodologies: A Collaborative Human Factors Approach

Abstract

This outlines a collaborative methodology for accident reconstruction and demonstrates the synergistic value of human factors, biomechanics, and analysis in virtual 3D environments. An incident involving a wood chipper winch line that resulted in operator injuries provides the framework for these methods. Several hypothetical scenarios were proposed as to how the unwitnessed incident occurred. Using a 3D virtual environment, each of the scenarios was tested with human factors and biomechanical principles to determine the most likely series of events of the incident. A human factors analysis determined how the operator used the winch line and what they should have observed, while the biomechanical analysis used the injuries to determine the relative positions of the operator, winch line, and wood chipper in-feed tray at the time of the incident. Ultimately, it was determined that the wood chipper operator did not follow the chipper manufacturer’s safety warnings and instructions and employer’s training.