SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

We compile citations and summaries of about 400 new articles every week.
RSS Feed

HELP: Tutorials | FAQ
CONTACT US: Contact info

Search Results

Journal Article

Citation

Schon G. Safety Sci. 1993; 16(3-4): 343-358.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper brings up for discussion aspects which are important for formulating an internationally accepted basic concept for the safety of technical processes. It is also intended to promote cooperation in the international standardization committees (e.g. ISO and IEC) and within the EC. The basis is formed by a concept published as early as 1984 in a German preliminary standard finally accepted in 1987. This concept is at present being worked out in more detail. Its underlying principle is in agreement with the definition in sect. 2.5 of ISO/IEC Guide 2 (1986) which reads "safety: Freedom from unacceptable risk of harm". The discretionary decision concerning the acceptability reflects the fact: Absolute safety cannot be reached. The decision requires in the first instance the evaluation of the risk. On the basis of experience with similar installations and parts of them, the risk describes possible harm by means of probability statements. These objective findings have to be the basis of the statement of acceptability, which is to assess the advantages and disadvantages of the project and of feasible substitute projects. Under certain conditions, this subjective decision, which is often inevitably affected by socio-political problems, can be replaced by a comparison of risks. For this comparison it is a prerequisite that the prevailing conditions be comparable. The comparison is based on the experience gained with similar processes, which have already proved their worth and have also been accepted by society. As the acceptable risk is in both cases the same, the comparison can be limited to decisions on technical facts. -- Besides the basic concept, also details, such as risk parameters, reference quantities, protection and competences for the establishment of regulations, are dealt with.

NEW SEARCH


All SafetyLit records are available for automatic download to Zotero & Mendeley
Print