Posted By Andrew Lochlyn Ure
Charlie

I've used Tripod Beta, unfortunately in the heat of a fatal RTA in the Middle East some years ago. I work in oil and gas, where it is used as the model of preference for incident analysis for a certain large Anglo/Dutch conglomerate. It is based on the theory that all incidents involve a hazard, a target and an event which releases the inherent harm in the hazard which damages the target. The software builds a fault tree based around the three parts of the 'Tripod'. It has it's advantages, particularly in the discipline it enforces in an investigation. However, it is not an investigation tool, it's an analysis tool - someone still has to go out on site, interview people, take pictures, measure things and write notes i.e. the core skills required for a proper investigation. It is also designed with high hazard, big-bang activities in mind and was therefore of limited use in the awful number of road traffic accidents I either used it in or saw it being used. The fault tree can become horribly complex (Garbage In, Garbage Out) in the hands of someone who allows it to become so, and it doesn't prevent idiocy (I once saw a fault tree developed after a fatal fall from height where the hazard was defined as the 'hard ground'). So no substitute for brains. But generally speaking, I would say it's a pretty good tool to have in the toolkit, although it needs care. And you will still need to write a proper, no frills, plain speaking report which tells the story of the incident, because the one that Tripod used to spit out (it may be better now) was virtually unreadable unless you spoke the Tripod language.

Good luck with it, Andrew Ure

Posted By Charlie Mc
Gents, thank you both for your response. Much obliged, I will see how things progress. Thanks again.