New “What Went Wrong” Video

Have you seen the latest What Went Wrong video?

This series explores the most famous safety incidents to help us learn from the past. We upload a new entry to YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook every month.

The Salisbury Train Crash

After a mandatory cleaning was delayed, the tracks lost too much friction from the wet leaves. As such, the station signaler and train operator’s efforts to activate the brakes were fruitless.

Train 1L53 collided with Train 1430 inside a tunnel, injuring 14 people and damaging both trains.

The Salisbury Rail Incident is now a textbook example of why cleanings should be strictly enforced. It also highlights the importance of the Safeguard Hierarchy. Many safeguards relied on manual cleanings to function, rendering them useless otherwise.

The Fidenae Colosseum Collapse

As an entrepreneurial pursuit, Atilius built the stadium without strong materials or foundation.

As it loaded up with about 30,000 people, wooden joints at the midpoint of the structure snapped, bifurcating it in two. The disaster happened in an instant, with no time for anyone to escape.

The fate of the Fidenae Amphitheater is a tragic illustration of the age-old story; cutting corners to save time and money ultimately costs lives.

The Smiler Crash

Thorough investigation proved it was more than human error.

After a miscommunication between operations and maintenance, the safety systems were overridden. With an empty cart stalled on the tracks, this resulted in a horrific crash that led to life-changing injuries for the four front passengers.

Instead of blaming the workers for making mistakes, Alton Towers took accountability. The company fully compensated the victims and fixed the systems that facilitated the mistakes. Watch and learn why systemic improvement is so important.

The Piper Alpha Disaster

Was Piper Alpha as simple as missing paperwork? Not quite.

Operations and maintenance did not sign off on scheduled maintenance together, as mandated by company policy. The unfollowed protocol was certainly a key causal factor, but the root causes lie deeper than one SPAC violation.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire was disaster waiting for a catalyst.

When a fire emerged at the facility, every emergency response failed. The fire escape collapsed, the doors were inoperable, and the firefighters were completely helpless to save anyone.

How could so many different safety systems fail?

The Monongah Mine Explosion

The worst mining incident in American history was a complex consequence of several failed practices: dishonest reporting, faulty equipment, overworked employees, and much more.

Watch to review why redundancy is so critical in safety.

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Also known as “the most preventable emergency” and the “BP Oil Spill”, the environmental disaster started with skimping, but dragged on due to blame.

Let’s discuss the importance of conservative decision-making.

The Bhopal Disaster

The gas leak that injured 50,000 residents of Bhopal, India wasn’t as simple as sabotage. It was a consequence of failed safety practices, detached leadership, and inadequate safety education.

How could we avoided such a tragedy?

The Challenger Explosion

NASA’s failed launch of the shuttle was a devastating moment for millions of Americans.

And there’s more to this story than the faulty O-ring. Learn how strict deadlines can impact safety culture.

Boston’s Great Molasses Flood

Many know the tragedy of the Great Molasses Flood of 1919: a 50ft tank of molasses bursted open and wreaked havoc onto the residents of Boston.

But did you know this was entirely preventable?