Swiss Cheese in Brazil: Disaster Culture and Safety Culture in Disasters

Abstract

Abstract This article discusses points related to “disaster culture” and “safety culture” in Brazil, and debates how societal-structural factors influence the management of low incidence and high consequence disasters, such as dam breaks, which appear to provide limited evidence for preventive decision making. Discussion of the occurrence of disasters considers the “Swiss Cheese Model” of risk analysis proposed by James Reason. The article uses this to indicate some potential paths forward.