Contributing Factors

In the context of ICAM (Incident Cause Analysis Method), a contributing factor is an underlying cause that contributes to an incident or accident. Contributing factors are typically related to people, equipment, procedures, and organizational factors that can increase the likelihood of an incident or accident occurring.

Identifying contributing factors is an important step in the ICAM process as it helps to identify the root cause of an incident or accident. By understanding the underlying causes that contribute to an incident or accident, recommendations can be developed to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. Examples of contributing factors may include inadequate training, equipment failure, or ineffective policies and procedures.

The contributing factors can be categorized into the following groups:

1. Absent or Failed Defences

2. Individual or  Team Action

3. Workplace Factors

4. Human Factors

5. Organizational Factors