How to Build a Better System Safety Program based on a Little Common Sense (and 25 years of Trial and Error)

摘要

In today's environment, there is a strong emphasis on safety for any product or service. While the structure and level of effort may vary in different applications, most successful system safety programs share common characteristics in terms of the participants, their roles and their products. Twenty-five years of personal experience in building system safety programs and observing the efforts of others have been utilized to identify these common elements. The approach described emphasizes early and continuous system safety involvement in the development and operation of the product or activity. Program elements discussed included requirements, responsibilities, planning, tools, and products. Less traditional topics addressed are the importance of communication and interrelationships with other project elements. A staff with the "right stuff", proper training and motivation is identified as a key ingredient. A true commitment by the entire project team is noted as the necessary element that binds the system safety program to the total effort. While the experience base is primary large complex aerospace systems, the basic principals should have wide application. The material is organized to present the key characteristics of each program element providing a top-level road map that can be adjusted to fit a particular application. Related sources of information are also provided for easy reference.