Process Safety: Managing the Human Factor Interface

摘要

The purpose of this paper is to detail the challenges organizations face in managing the interface between industrial process/production personnel and critical systems. Current approaches are to minimize or eliminate that interface through system safety engineering. When the interface cannot be eliminated, it needs to be managed to reduce risks to acceptable levels. The key to meeting these needs is a standardized set of work instructions. Norfolk Naval Shipyard has developed the Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (OSHE) Work Specification (OWS) method to meet these requirements. This method is based on the premise that work is accomplished by specific tasks using a variety of processes. The development of an OWS begins with a complete engineering analysis of the work process followed by a comprehensive risk assessment. Regulations pertaining to the risk factors of the work process are identified and linked to the applicable process step. A document management system with workflow capability provides the functionality necessary to fully maintain technical specifications and standards and automate the processes which supports the creation and delivery of this information to the workforce.