Incident reporting and learning systems are an integral part of safety management activities; however, the reporting and learning systems used in practice have been criticised as they do not align contemporary models of accident causation. This Australian Research Council Linkage funded program involved the development of the Understanding and Preventing Led Outdoors Data System (UPLOADS) incident reporting and learning system for the led outdoor activity (LOA) sector in Australia. The project developed and implemented an incident reporting and learning system and national incident dataset underpinned by contemporary models of accident causation. The UPLOADS App provides led outdoor activity providers with a means of reporting and analysing adverse events that occur during led outdoor activity programs (e.g. injuries, illnesses, equipment, environmental damage and psychological impacts) and near miss incidents from a systems perspective. UPLOADS is currently being used by over 80 organisations across all Australian states with 1108 registered users across 635 different activity sites. Since 2015 over 7,500 incidents have been reported and analysed via UPLOADS, with the outputs creating new knowledge on the systemic causes of accidents and injury incidents and supporting led outdoor activity providers in developing more effective safety interventions and risk controls. The long-term benefits of UPLOADS have included increased knowledge on accident and injury causation as well as a reduction in accidents and injuries through enhanced safety interventions.
Research Background
Within safety science, it is widely acknowledged that the incident reporting and learning systems used in practice are limited and do not align with contemporary models of accident causation. A result of this is a poor understanding of accident causation which in turn leads to the development of ineffective safety interventions. Within the LOA sector there is a lack of accident and injury data and subsequently a limited understanding of accident and injury trends, causation and appropriate injury prevention strategies.
Research Contribution
The UPLOADS research program has provided the world’s leading incident reporting and learning App. Specifically, UPLOADS is the first incident reporting and learning system worldwide to be underpinned by contemporary accident causation theory and analysis methods and to provide reporters with the capacity to identify contributory factors and relationships across entire work systems. UPLOADS is currently being used by over 80 organisations, and since 2015 over 7,500 incidents have been reported and analysed via UPLOADS. The outputs have created new knowledge on the systemic causes of accidents and injury incidents and have supported LOA providers in developing more effective safety interventions and risk controls.
Research Significance
The significance of UPLOADS is that it has enabled the LOA sector in Australia to effectively report and analyse their injury and near miss incidents, enhancing the knowledge base on accident and injury causation in this domain. Our most recent data analysis shows a reduction in incidents from 10.9 per 1,000 participation days in September 2018 to 3.9 per 1,000 participation days in March 2020. Further, the project has resulted in over 20 peer reviewed journals, a book, and an International Ergonomics Association ‘Research Impacting Practice’ award (2018).
- Creative Work Portfolio: The Understanding and Preventing Led Outdoor Accidents Data System (UPLOADS) Research Program
- Amanda Clacy (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteMichelle Van Mulken (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems ScienceNatassia Goode (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems SciencePaul Salmon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems ScienceClare Dallat (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Social Sciences - LegacyScott McLean (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems ScienceLauren Coventon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- 2019
- Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; Thompson Institute
- English
- 99658698802621
- Other creative works; Portfolio
- NT2
71