1. 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

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

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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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!

8. “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”

9. 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.

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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. Second Thoughts?