How does the Swiss cheese model apply to safety?
How does the Swiss cheese model apply to safety? According to this metaphor, in a complex system, hazards are prevented from causing human losses by a series of barriers. Each barrier has unintended weaknesses, or holes – hence the similarity with Swiss cheese. When by chance all holes are aligned, the hazard reaches the patient and causes harm (Figure 1). How does the Swiss cheese model explain the prevention of sentinel events? The Swiss Cheese Model According to this model, a series of barriers are in place to prevent hazards from causing harm to humans. The presence of holes...