Andrew Hopkins

Professor Andrew Hopkins is an Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Australian National University in Canberra, recognized for his expertise in industrial safety and accident analysis. Hopkins has dedicated more than four decades to applying sociological analysis to major industrial disasters across sectors including oil and gas, mining, chemical, aviation, and rail transport. His research focuses on organizational failures and their role in catastrophic events, providing insights for safety professionals, regulators, and executives worldwide.

Hopkins's interest in industrial safety began after a coal mine explosion that resulted in 14 fatalities, prompting his first article on occupational health and safety and shaping his career in disaster analysis. His initial book examined a coal mine explosion in Queensland, and his subsequent research has addressed high-profile industrial accidents. Hopkins served as an expert witness at the Royal Commission into the Exxon gas plant explosion near Melbourne and consulted for the U.S. Chemical Safety Board during investigations into the BP Texas City Refinery disaster and the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill, each leading to a published book. His works include "Failure to Learn: The BP Texas City Refinery Disaster," "Disastrous Decisions: The Human and Organisational Causes of the Gulf of Mexico Blowout," "Lessons from Longford," "Lessons from Gretley," "Safety, Culture and Risk," "Learning from High Reliability Organisations," "Organising for Safety," and "Boeing, the 737 MAX Crisis and Aviation Safety: The Perils of Profit-Driven Engineering." Hopkins has authored more than 15 books, with over 100,000 copies sold globally.

Hopkins has received recognition for his contributions to process safety, including the European Process Safety Centre safety award and honorary fellowship in the Institution of Chemical Engineers. He is a life member of the Australian Institute of Health and Safety and has received its highest award for lifetime achievement. Hopkins has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to industrial safety and accident analysis and has served on the advisory board of NOPSEMA, the Australian National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority.

In addition to his writing, Hopkins has provided consultancy services to companies in the mining, petroleum, chemical, and electrical industries, as well as for Defence, and has participated in reviews of Work Health and Safety regulation. He regularly addresses audiences on the human and organizational causes of major accidents, contributing to the fields of occupational health and safety, process safety, and risk management.