What is System Safety? System Safety is an effort to make things as safe as practical by systematically using engineering and management tools to identify, analyze and control hazards “Effort” in this case is synonymous with an: Approach Discipline Concept Doctrine Philosophy

What “things” are we talking about making safe? Systems Programs Projects Products Operations Facilities

How safe is “…as safe as practical?” Regulatory compliant Recognized industry “best practice” Proactively Managed Risk

What “system” are we talking about? Any composite of: People (Man) Hardware (Machine) Tasks & Procedures (Mission) Environment (Medium)

5 M model Represents the casual factors in accidents 5 main areas become a meaningful checklist Intertwined circles illustrate interaction Interrelated areas focus on mission Mission accomplishment is implicit to system safety effort

Man-Machine-Environment T.P. Wright introduced this concept to aviation safety in the late 1940’s Triad adopted by USC instructors and became the 3-M model Management, the 4th M, added in 1965 Mission added in 1976 by E.A. Jerome of the Flight Safety Foundation Man-machine-medium mission-management factors represent a valuable model for examining the nature of accidents When seeking causal factors or preventative actions the diagram helps ensure all factors are considered. T.P. Wright of Cornell University first introduce the man-machine-environment triad to aviation language in the 1940’s. He was influential in the development of the Cornell-Guggenheim Aviation Safety Division of the University College, USC. Management emphasized the interrelationships between 3-m and management. Mission factors discussed at military-oriented USC course but not introduced into the diagram until 1976 at the suggestion of Mr. E. A. Jerome a staff member of the Flight Safety Foundation

Why System Safety? Primary reason is to achieve better results! Regulatory compliance is a minimalist approach Exemplar “best practices” may not recognize hazards unique to your system Codes, standards and regulations tend to lag leading-edge activities Primary reason is to achieve better results!

“Systematic methods with a measured approach to identifying, analyzing, and controlling hazards aid in reducing errors and improve task accomplishment through increased effectiveness and efficiency”

You are about to be evaluated on a task You are about to be evaluated on a task. It will be timed so work quickly but safely -- Accuracy is paramount! FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF MANY YEARS.

How many F’s did you count? 2 3 4 5 None of the Above?

Starting at the end of the sentence count backwards and mentally X each letter F. Use your fingers to tally each X. Accuracy is paramount – time is of no concern. FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF MANY YEARS.

A “systems” approach will reduce errors even for simple tasks Almost all operations benefit from a combination of controls A “safety precedent” dictates an order of approaches This precedent sequence is one of the “common strategies” in various systems approaches used today Not all safety systems are created equal

Safety, who is responsible? Management has overall responsibility for ensuring programs are established, staffed, trained and resourced The safety community has responsibility for support, education, tools & techniques, and monitoring progress The engineers are responsible to provide hardware expertise, perform analyses and to make design changes

Systems Safety Working Group (SSWG) Project Managers Design Engineers Safety Engineers End User (customer)

Final Comments System Safety efforts begin with the system conceptualization Continue through initial design and construction Sustained during operational life cycle Follow through with system disposal A “cradle to grave” program

Second Thoughts?