This study investigated human error characteristics of the 42 fatal industrial accidents reported by staff members of Korea Industrial Safety Corporation. Various types of human error were judged to be primary contributing factors in about 74 percent of the cases. Most of human error made by involved industrial operators resulted from two types of mistakes: (1) mistake in judgement of work situation, and (2) omission in daily check. It was concluded that preparation/observance for work procedure manuals, danger predication training and enforcement/Education of daily check routine would be effective preventive tools for these types of human error attributable to fatal industrial accidents.