• Section A. Working drafts, unpublished.
• Section B. Data tables, arrays and figures for research projects
• Section C. Historical unpublished works,
• Section D unpublished works prepared for private use

This section contains a current list of works in process that I am developing for potential future publication, and data tables and figures that I developed during my research. These works and data might be of interest for their potential contributions or use by others. Collaborators and Comments would be welcomed.

1. Proposed editorial for a safety journal

   rejected; rewrote, expanded and submitted to another journal
   

2. Trifurcation of Accident Investigation Functions)

   (working file v3)

   This research describes competency and other problems due to conflation of functions found in today's accident investigation processes, the need for change, and how mishap investigations could be conducted, reported and used to overcome those problems.

3. Accident Data: User's Hidden Challenges

   (published Oct 2019 in Safety Science)

4. Accident Data: Pitfalls for Users

   (With journal editor.)

5. Accident Investigation: Eliminate causal statements from accident descriptions.

   (With journal editor.)

   Describes and analyzes cause attribution problems in accident investigations, claimed benefits and harmful effects and proposes response actions
   

6. Vulnerabilities of System Safety analysis methods.

   (being published as letter to Editor)

   If safety analyses didn't identify an accident that happened, was it a flawed method or flawed execution? Discusses vulnerabilities found in safety assessment methods, and the need to identify them.

7. Accident Investigation: The Vital Linking Function

   (working file draft v7)

   Describes the input data linking function role and implementation during investigations and why it is so important

8. Thinking your way through investigations

   (working file v1)

   Lays out the thought processes as investigators work their way through their investigations, from preparations to final actions (first draft)

9. STEP-MES Investigation Guides For Investigating What Happened

   (Revising 2017 version to update text, illustrations

   Series of 11 guides providing tasks and tools for a developing graphic data array providing an explanatory description of any phenomenon that happened, to the extent permitted by surviving data sources.

10. Accident Investigation: Maximising Lessons Learned

    working draft v 9

    Paper describes crucial investigation input data structuring and linking functions, their role in investigations, and the results of their proper execution.

1. Investigation Issues. This database contains observations of and insights gained about safety investigation issues identified and reported from 1972 to today by Ludwig Benner during investigations, investigations of investigation processes, analyses of investigation reports and literature searches, shown with the work in which it was introduced. View 5 page database at AI_Investigation_insights_db- LB.pdf. Also, please refer to Research Wish List pages for investigation issues at http://www.iprr.org/research/issue.html in a list of research issues that was started around1997 from observations during investigations, and grew with experience.
   
   
2. Student survey. Results of survey responses of students attending a 1982 USC Accident Investigation course. Almost all students had some investigation and a few had safety position experiences.The survey solicited their definitions of CAUSE and FACTORS they would use in accident investigations. View the results here.
   
   
3. Extracted Statements About Cause Taken From 1996 Isasi Seminar Proceedings, posted at Investigation Research Roundtable http://www.iprr.org/ April 1998, with samples of how investigators view cause in their presentations. View data
   
   
4. Data Base of Sampled Foundational Views Underlying Accident Investigation Processes. Contains disparate samples of definitions of accidents, investigations, investigation purposes, cause, cause requirements, human error from various sources. 2016 to date. View data.
   
   
5. Accident Investigation and Analysis Methods Database, with acronyms and Internet URLS where they are described.View data

6. References Lists containing the references cited in many manuscripts submitted for publication, assembled in one location for convenient perusal by anyone interested in investigation process research.

1. Historical Risk Analysis Document:

   I have posted an early internal staff working draft of a technical document I prepared at the NTSB in 1971-1972 at the request of and in consultation with the Bureau Director, Henry Wakeland. It contains the risk oriented basis for focusing the Board's HazMat safety efforts on emergency responder safety and tank car head shield retrofits. It also generated , the insights for GEBMO, DECIDE, TRACEM and other models that were developed for Frank Brannigan's Fire Science curriculum at Montgomery College in subsequent years. The study was overtaken by external events before it was completed, and was not further developed for consideration by the Safety Board.

   View the last draft of A RISK BASED ANALYSIS METHOD FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RAIL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.
   

2. Draft Aircraft Fire research report

   This project was undertaken to determine if aircraft fire losses might be addressed using an analysis method I developed to assess the effectiveness of emergency responses to hazmat accidents. The method is called Time/Loss Analysis. (T/LA) It uses best estimates of the loss accumulation over time as the emergency progresses to its conclusion. T/LA was used as a tool in the MORT program shortly after it was developed and publicly shared as STEP-MES Guide 8, first published in 1979. I used it experimentally at the NTSB to try to isolate response problems. This was the first attempt to apply it to aviation fire responses.To view a 2003 draft, see LOSS HISTORIES: A UNDERUSED SAFETY RESOURCE

   My special thanks to Mike Murphy for his many many contributions.
   

1. Benner, L., REFLECTIONS ON SCIENTIFIC METHOD, course handout, USC Accident Investigation Course, ISSM 514, 1978.
   
   
2. Internal document for NTSB: Background Paper: Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Network, TE40 (L Benner) Hazmat Div to provide talking points in support of an NTSB recommendation.
   
   
3. L Benner, 3 DAY ADVANCED ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COURSE, example of 1980s investigation courses, based on the then current state of the art. 18 blocks plus handouts, for USC ISSM for a railroad company.
   
   
4. Numerous other accident investigation courses presented to various corporate, union and government audiences are not reproduced here.


These sections will be supplemented as time permits.