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Postgraduate DiplomaHealth, Biomechanics, Wearables & Operational Safety Applications open

Postgraduate Diploma in TRIPOD/HFACS Methodologies and Evidence

The Postgraduate Diploma in TRIPOD/HFACS Methodologies and Evidence focuses on the study of risk analysis and human factors in the investigation of incidents and accidents. It explores the TRIPOD and HFACS (Human Factors Analysis and Classification System) methodologies to identify the root causes of adverse events, using evidence collection and data analysis for the prevention and mitigation of risks. The programme emphasises the application of these tools in operational safety, risk management and incident investigation, preparing professionals to identify failures and drive the continuous improvement of systems.

It addresses the importance of evidence, documentation and preservation in investigation, as well as the analysis of contributing factors, from failures in management systems to human errors. It provides skills for drafting effective investigation reports and implementing corrective measures. The postgraduate diploma is aimed at professional roles such as accident investigators, safety analysts, risk managers and aviation professionals, as well as professionals in other industries seeking to improve safety.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Compare the main accident causation models.

02

Build Tripod Beta diagrams identifying barriers and latent conditions.

03

Classify unsafe acts and preconditions using HFACS.

04

Manage the chain of custody of investigation evidence.

05

Conduct witness interviews while accounting for cognitive biases.

06

Triangulate evidence from different sources to validate causal hypotheses.

07

Write investigation reports aimed at organisational learning.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Accident investigator looking to specialise in TRIPOD/HFACS Methodologies and Evidence.
  • Human factors specialist looking to specialise in TRIPOD/HFACS Methodologies and Evidence.
  • Operational safety technician looking to specialise in TRIPOD/HFACS Methodologies and Evidence.
  • Safety occurrence analyst looking to specialise in TRIPOD/HFACS Methodologies and Evidence.
  • Safety management systems auditor looking to specialise in TRIPOD/HFACS Methodologies and Evidence.
  • Safety culture consultant looking to specialise in TRIPOD/HFACS Methodologies and Evidence.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter civil aviation.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ICAO Annex 13 (accident and incident investigation)
  • Regulation (EU) No 996/2010 (investigation of civil aviation accidents)
  • Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 (occurrence reporting)
  • ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management systems)
  • Directive (EU) 2016/798 (railway safety)
  • CCPS Guidelines for Investigating Process Safety Incidents
Syllabus

8 modules · 800 h

  1. 1.1Reason's Swiss cheese model
  2. 1.2Active errors and latent conditions
  3. 1.3Error taxonomy: slips, lapses and mistakes
  4. 1.4Routine and exceptional violations
  5. 1.5Systemic versus linear models
  6. 1.6Safety-I and Safety-II
  7. 1.7Drift into failure theory
  8. 1.8Hindsight bias in investigation
  9. 1.9Comparison of analysis methodologies
  10. 1.10Case study: reading the Tenerife accident with Reason's model
  1. 2.1Origins of Tripod in the oil industry
  2. 2.2Elements: hazards, targets and events
  3. 2.3Failed, missing and effective barriers
  4. 2.4Causal chain: immediate action, precondition and underlying cause
  5. 2.5Basic risk failure (BRF) types
  6. 2.6Building the Tripod tree
  7. 2.7Diagram validation rules
  8. 2.8Software supporting Tripod
  9. 2.9Recommendations derived from underlying causes
  10. 2.10Workshop: Tripod Beta tree of a terminal spill
  1. 3.1Four-level structure of HFACS
  2. 3.2Unsafe acts: errors and violations
  3. 3.3Preconditions for unsafe acts
  4. 3.4Unsafe supervision
  5. 3.5Organisational influences
  6. 3.6Adaptations: HFACS-ME, HFACS-RR and HFACS-MI
  7. 3.7Inter-rater reliability of classification
  8. 3.8Statistical analysis of HFACS databases
  9. 3.9Integration with trend analysis
  10. 3.10Practice: HFACS classification of twenty incident reports
  1. 4.1Types of evidence: physical, documentary, digital and testimonial
  2. 4.2Principles of collection and preservation
  3. 4.3Chain of custody and record-keeping
  4. 4.4Perishable evidence and prioritisation
  5. 4.5Photography and documentation of the scene
  6. 4.6Analysis of electronic and SCADA records
  7. 4.7Analysis of maintenance documentation
  8. 4.8Assessing the reliability of evidence
  9. 4.9Evidence versus inference
  10. 4.10Laboratory: evidence collection plan for a plant fire
  1. 5.1Enhanced cognitive interview
  2. 5.2Witness memory and its fragility
  3. 5.3Open questions and interviewer bias
  4. 5.4Interviewing the directly involved person
  5. 5.5Analysis of fatigue and workload
  6. 5.6Situational awareness and decision-making
  7. 5.7Interface design and induced error
  8. 5.8Environment, communication and teamwork
  9. 5.9Legal aspects and confidentiality
  10. 5.10Practice: simulated interview with a control room operator
  1. 6.1Triangulation across evidence sources
  2. 6.2Integrated timelines
  3. 6.3Combining Tripod and HFACS
  4. 6.4Relationship with Bowtie and barrier analysis
  5. 6.5Validating hypotheses against evidence
  6. 6.6Managing contradictory evidence
  7. 6.7Confidence level of findings
  8. 6.8Peer review of the analysis
  9. 6.9Investigation management tools
  10. 6.10Case study: combined analysis of an aeronautical maintenance failure
  1. 7.1Structure of an investigation report
  2. 7.2Writing findings and causal factors
  3. 7.3Recommendations linked to causes
  4. 7.4Communicating to the organisation
  5. 7.5Occurrence databases and coding
  6. 7.6Organisational trend analysis
  7. 7.7Just culture in investigation
  8. 7.8Quality assessment of investigations
  9. 7.9Training internal investigators
  10. 7.10Workshop: critical review of a real investigation report
  1. 8.1Selection of the event and scope
  2. 8.2Evidence collection plan
  3. 8.3Building the timeline
  4. 8.4Tripod Beta analysis
  5. 8.5HFACS classification of factors
  6. 8.6Triangulation and validation of findings
  7. 8.7Drafting recommendations
  8. 8.8Final investigation report
  9. 8.9Dissertation and presentation
  10. 8.10Final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, making it easy to combine with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is BowTieXP, TapRooT, NVivo, XMind, advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real investigation procedures from actual cases, using Tripod Beta trees, HFACS classification of incident reports and cognitive interviews with witnesses. Assessment is continuous across modules, plus the final integrating project.

Accreditable laboratories(EN ISO/IEC 17025) with rotor test rig, EMC/Lightning pre-compliance, HIL/SIL, vibration/acoustics.
Final project focused on evidence:safety case, test plan, compliance dossier and operational limits.
Industry mentoring:lecturers with experience in training, , eVTOL/UAM and flight test.
Flexible format(hybrid/online), international cohorts and support from SEIUM Career Services.
Ethics and safety:safety-by-design approach, cyber-OT, DIH and compliance as pillars.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Selection of the event and scope

Compare the main accident causation models.

Evidence collection plan

Build Tripod Beta diagrams identifying barriers and latent conditions.

Building the timeline

Classify unsafe acts and preconditions using HFACS.

Tripod Beta analysis

Manage the chain of custody of investigation evidence.

HFACS classification of factors

Conduct witness interviews while accounting for cognitive biases.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Accident investigatorHuman factors specialistOperational safety technicianSafety occurrence analystSafety management systems auditorSafety culture consultant
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory reading.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.

The programme uses BowTieXP, TapRooT, NVivo, XMind and advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the final integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the higher-level programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.

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