Block diagram showing the different parts of car engine system

An accident is a dynamic occurrence caused by the activation of a hazard and consists of a number of interrelated events resulting in a loss. It can cause the injury or death of individuals, as well as property damage to equipment and hardware. A related term that is sometimes used to refer to accidents but is actually a different kind of event is an incident. An incident is also an unplanned event but may or may not have an adverse effect. An incident may simply be an occurrence with no losses. These are sometimes referred to as near misses.  

One of the first mentions of the concept of system safety appeared in the technical paper Engineering for Safety presented at the Institute for Aeronautical Sciences in 1947. It stressed that safety should be designed into airplanes, and it continued by stating that safety groups should be an important part of the organization. 

It wasn t until the early 1960s and the development of ballistic missile systems that the system-safety concept gained a more formal acceptance. Contractors were given the responsibility for safety. 

NASA also implemented a system-safety program patterned after the Air Force standards. These programs were instrumental to the successful completion of many NASA projects, including the Apollo moon missions. 

The private sector has begun to develop system-safety programs because of the successes of the military and NASA. Leading the way are the nuclear power, refining, and chemical industries. The adoption of system safety in those industries manufacturing consumer products has generated returns in terms of more effective products, fewer accidents, and longer product life. 

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