A Study on the Analysis of Human Error Accidents of Railway Workers - Focusing on the Facility Sector -

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the occupational accidents of railway workers, with a particular focus on the human errors of track workers, and to propose effective countermeasures. Despite the comprehensive revision of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the implementation of the Serious Accident Punishment Act, the railway industry remains structurally vulnerable to occupational accidents. Moreover, studies on the human errors of track workers are notably insufficient. This study systematically examines the causes of occupational fatalities among track workers and suggests preventive and mitigation measures. Methods: Data on occupational accidents from 2013 to 2022 were analyzed using Excel pivot tables, categorized by work processes and accident types. The HFACS (Human Factors Analysis and Classification System) framework was employed to identify root causes of accidents, while the Bow-Tie method was utilized to derive preventive and mitigation measures. Results: The analysis revealed that most accidents involving track workers occurred between July and September, particularly during rail and crossing replacement, track maintenance, and inspection activities. Collision accidents were the most frequent, followed by incidents of being struck and entrapment. Human error analysis showed that mistakes (36%) and violations (31%) were the primary contributors to these incidents. This indicates that accidents often stem from errors by inexperienced workers and violations committed by experienced personnel. Physical and technical factors, such as track infrastructure and safety equipment, were identified as significant contributors. Furthermore, a lack of safety awareness and inadequate safety management were highlighted as major underlying causes of these accidents. Conclusion: This study systematically identified the working environment, common accident types, and key human error causes among track workers. Based on these findings, preventive and mitigation measures were proposed to reduce occupational fatalities. Future research should focus on analyzing the interrelationships between the identified factors to provide more comprehensive and meaningful insights.