Socio‐technical Disasters: Profile and Prevalence

Examines socio‐technical disasters, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s, listing the organizational situations in which they occur and singling out Hillsborough (football) and Kesworth (aeroplane) for detailed treatment. Deals with various aspects of the socio‐technical disaster: the disaster sequence; signals and triggers; the extensive damage to human life and the physical environment; the large economic and social costs; responses to and resolution of crises, among others. After discussing the simple and complex causes of socio‐technical disasters, urges management to learn from past disasters and make organizational changes. Concludes that this type of disaster will continue in the 1990s in ordinary organizations which are potentially socio‐technically disaster‐prone.