The HFACS method is a five-level hierarchical model that identifies the underlying causes of human error, including unsafe acts, preconditions for unsafe acts, and organizational influences.

Here is a step-by-step methodology for performing the HFACS method to identify unsafe acts:

✓ Collect data: Collect all available data related to the incident or accident. This data may include witness statements, accident reports, maintenance records, air traffic control communications, and any other relevant documents.

✓ Identify the outcome: Identify the outcome of the incident or accident, such as an aircraft collision, runway excursion, or loss of control.

✓ Classify the unsafe acts: Classify the unsafe acts that contributed to the outcome using the HFACS framework. Unsafe acts can be further classified as skill-based errors, decision errors, or perceptual errors.

✓ Identify the preconditions for unsafe acts: Identify the preconditions for the unsafe acts that contributed to the outcome. Preconditions can include environmental factors, equipment design, and job demands.

✓ Identify the organizational influences: Identify the organizational influences that contributed to the outcome, such as policies, procedures, training, and communication.

✓ Analyze the data: Analyze the data collected in steps 1-5 to identify patterns and trends in the unsafe acts, preconditions, and organizational influences.

✓ Develop recommendations: Develop recommendations to address the identified unsafe acts, preconditions, and organizational influences. Recommendations should aim to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

✓ Implement and evaluate recommendations: Implement the recommendations and evaluate their effectiveness. Make any necessary adjustments to the recommendations to ensure they are effective in preventing future incidents.

The HFACS method provides a systematic and structured approach to identifying and analyzing human error in aviation incidents and accidents. By identifying the underlying causes of human error, organizations can develop strategies to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.