Normal Accidents

About “Normal Accidents”

"Normal" accidents, or system accidents, are inevitable in extremely complex systems, according to Charles Perrow. These accidents occur when multiple failures interact, often despite efforts to prevent them. Perrow notes that operator error is common, and many failures stem from organizational issues rather than technology. He also points out that major accidents usually start with small, seemingly trivial events that later cascade through the system, leading to severe consequences. Perrow identifies three conditions that make a system prone to normal accidents: complexity, tight coupling, and catastrophic potential. These factors increase the likelihood of unexpected and widespread failures.