Man‐made disasters: the failure of foresight

Abstract

Investigates the stages that precede a disaster, switching the emphasis from the role of the emergency services to the responsibilities of management. Investigates three UK disasters: the collapsing colliery tip at the Welsh village of Aberfan in 1966; a collision at an automatic railway crossing at Hixon in England in 1968, between a large road transporter, carrying a transformer, and a train; and a fire at Summerland holiday leisure complex on the Isle of Man — all these events included large loss of life. Concludes that in modern times disasters arising from unknown or unsuspected sources are very rare but depend on information being correctly assessed.

Citation

Kippenberger, T. (1999), "Man‐made disasters: the failure of foresight", The Antidote, Vol. 4 No. 3, pp. 8-10. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000005431