Safety Management: An Introduction

Safety Management
An Introduction
Author(s)
M.J.M. Houtermans
Risknowlogy, m.j.m.houtermans@risknowlogy.com
Jabeekerstraat 10, NL-6451 CH Schinveld, The Netherlands
Published online at the ISA Safety Division
the use of standards, codes and guidelines and

1. Introduction on the other hand there are detailed safety
The ISO/IEC Guide 51 defines safety as analyses. Standards, codes and guidelines
“freedom from unacceptable risk” [1]. Therefore mainly exist because of lessons learned from the
in order to manage safety it is necessary to past, usually as a result from accidents.
understand what leads to unacceptable risk. Standards and codes deal with implementing
This understanding can be obtained with the requirements for a general process or specific
identification of important process parameters, applications based on existing knowledge, for
their possible deviations from normal conditions, example, codes and regulations for pressure
and consequences of these conditions. vessels [2] or burner management control
systems [3]. An advantage of the use of codes
To focus on safety requires a comprehensive and standards is the limited amount of effort to
understanding of the manufacturing process. It achieve acceptable safety targets. The trade off
is necessary to understand the process in terms of this approach is that only the minimum safety
of process parameters and process elements, requirements are addressed which do not
which include the necessary hardware and necessarily cover the acceptable risk of the
software that materialize the process. These specific process.
process parameters and elements need to be
understood in terms of their relationships and Safety analyses go beyond standards and codes.
possible interaction, and how deviations from In other words, analysis is useful when there is
the normal quantities, settings, or behavior can a need or desire to explicitly evaluate the risk
effect the safe operation of the process. To associated with the process, even after
achieve a safe operating plant, it is necessary to compliance with existing standards and codes.
design a process where possible deviations from It is acknowledged that implementation of
normal conditions can be kept within specific standards and safety analysis are two
limits that are dedicated by what is perceived as approaches that complement each other and
acceptable risk. that actually both should be used [4].
Compliance with the standards and codes
2. Design for Safety achieves a level of required safety, while
The “design for safety” concept can be analyses brings safety within the limits of
addressed in two ways. On one hand there is acceptable risk.
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3. Safety Analysis antagonistic manner with the other basic
properties of the system; in other words safety
Safety analysis starts usually with a hazard and
has to be carefully managed.
risk analysis. The objective of a hazard and risk
analysis is to identify all hazards and their The Department Of Energy in the US has
associated risk. It identifies what can go wrong defined five core functions for safety
and how it can be prevented or controlled. As management that comprise the underlying
result of this analysis it is possible to reduce the process for any work activity that could
associated risk to an acceptable level by either potentially affect the public, the workers, and
changing the design or adding safety measures the environment. These five core functions are
to the design. A hazard and risk analysis can (see also ) [5]:
show that specific hazards are, or are not, 1. Define the scope of work – Missions are
present after code requirements have been translated into work, expectations are
compiled with, that further safety measures are, set, tasks are defined and prioritized,
or are not, needed, and what the possible and resources are allocated.
consequence can be if the hazard causes an
accident. The outcome from the hazard and risk 2. Analyze the hazards – Hazards
analysis are recommendations to improve the associated with the work are identified,
plant design, incorporate additional safety analyzed and categorized.
measures, or define operation and maintenance 3. Develop and implement hazard controls
procedures that minimize or control potential – Applicable standards and
hazards. In other words, the objective of the requirements are identified and agreed-
safety analysis is to manage process parameters upon, controls to prevent/mitigate
or elements in terms of their deviations. The hazards are identified, the safety
next section will explain how safety is currently envelope is established, and controls are
managed in the manufacturing industry. implemented.
4. Safety Management 4. Perform work within controls –

Readiness is confirmed and work is
An industrial system can only be safe if all the performed safely.
individual elements of the system are safe and
interact with each other in a safe manner. 5. Provide feedback and continuous
Safety, like quality or profitability, is a basic improvement – Feedback information on
property of a system and needs to be addressed the adequacy of controls is gathered,
in a way that considers the individual elements, opportunities for improving the
and their interaction, within the context of the definition and planning of work are
system. The methods, techniques, and resource identified and implemented, line and
allocation must be coordinated, well planned, independent oversight is conducted, and
properly justified, and able to address the entire if necessary, regulatory enforcement
lifecycle of the system; in synergistic and not actions occur.

Project
description
Define
scope
of work
Feedback
Analyze
and
hazards
improve
Develop/
Perform
implement
work
controls
Work
output
Figure 1. Safety Management Work Cycle [5]

right people, with the right knowledge using the
5. Conclusions right tools for the company’s situation in place.
The underlying attribute of the safety If a company is successful in this endeavor it will
management functions is the thorough and an be able to make risk-informed business
integrated understanding of the process. In decisions that enable it to manage safety in an
practice the challenge for sound safety for the company economically responsible
management will therefore deal with having the manner.
References
1. ISO/IEC Guide 51 second edition, draft, 1997.
2. EEC/97/23, Directive Of The European Parliament And Of The Council On The Approximation Of The
Laws Of The Member States Concerning Pressure Equipment, May 1997.
3. EN 298, Automatic gas burner control system for gas burners and gas burning appliances with or
without fans. European Norm EN298.
4. Leveson N.G., Safeware, System Safety and Computers. Addison Wesley, September 1995.
5. Integrated Safety Management System Description, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Version
3.0, February 14, 2000.

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Safety Management

Published online at the ISA Safety Division

the use of standards, codes and guidelines and

info@risknowlogy.com Copyright  2002 - 2003 Risknowlogy 1

4. Safety Management 4. Perform work within controls –

info@risknowlogy.com Copyright  2002 - 2003 Risknowlogy 2

Figure 1. Safety Management Work Cycle [5]

info@risknowlogy.com Copyright  2002 - 2003 Risknowlogy 3

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