Case Studies in Process Safety: Lessons Learned from Software-Related Accidents

摘要

Software and automation can play a significant role with respect to safety in the chemicalprocess and energy production industries. Because computing systems are increasingly used tocontrol critical functions, software may directly contribute to an accident. On the other hand,software can also be used as part of the hazard control strategy to reduce risks, and computingsystems can provide valuable information to help make safety decisions. The importance ofincluding software as part of an organization's efforts to analyze and manage hazards and risksseems clear, but for many organizations software is not effectively incorporated into processsafety efforts. This paper reviews lessons learned from accidents and incidents to illustrate thepotential for a software-related accident even when process safety management tools andtechniques are used. This discussion is intended to provide insights to help improve processsafety and software safety efforts.