Unacknowledged deficiencies in system safety techniques create pitfalls for system safety analysts. The deficiencies are the absence of (1) generally accepted specifications for defining a system for system safety analysis purposes, (2) a generally accepted method for defining systems, and task requirement to apply the specifications or method, and (3) a system safety analysis feedback method and requirement that would disclose these deficiencies.

System safety analysts typically use system or subsystem descriptions supplied by others. Published system safety hazard discovery techniques provide no specifications for what constitutes an acceptable system definition. This deficiency creates unsuspected problems for system safety analysts. Consequences include inadequately understood system interactions, and undiscovered or overlooked hazards that lead to unnecessary mishaps. Remedial action is suggested.

Appendix 1. Requirements for System Definition Hazard Analysis Techniques

View complete paper