Operationally Critical, Threat

In the operational scope the assurance of processes continuity can be treated as a manner of the reaction to the operational risk created by the crucial threats with small occurrence probability. The assurance of the processes continuity should have ground on the realisation of breakdown activities until the state before the breakdown. On the operation level it can be conducted in the system way, so - in the reaction on the effects of the critical threats - by the use of proper organisational structure as well as procedures oriented to the realisation of the basic operational processes in the situation of the risk materialisation. 

An example is given, considering the threats of erosion/corrosion in the petroleum production. This example shows how the proposed model deals with different operative conditions and how the risk of loss of containment is affected by them. In this way, the importance of both the state of the threats and the performance of the barriers is demonstrated. An effective action of risk prevention should be then focused on both of them by giving priority to the improvement of poor barriers connected to critical threats. 

However, despite the strong specificity of the solution for the individual company, our experience indicates that, now more than ever, specialty companies should focus in particular on five critical strategic levers they should (1) revisit and focus their strategies, (2) find an answer to the opportunities and threats arising from emerging countries, (3) strive for top-class operations, (4) rediscover innovation beyond the development of new molecules, and (5) upgrade the performance management of their various business units. 

Requirements development includes both the identification of perceived needs and measurements of real needs. For example, the suit s mask must allow the operator to maintain situational awareness of both surroundings and the protective system status. Development of these systems must be performed in close consultation with the operator community, who provide critical data on human factors as well as appropriate validation and testing procedures. Performance characteristics and threat specifications will require research to optimize the operation and protection factors. This wiU hkely require... 

Considerations of these threats from a technological and national security perspective include the limits to use, the overall national security consequences of the threat, and the potential impact of the threat on military operations. The science and technology capabilities necessary to realize nanotechnology-enabled threats in 2030 can be extrapolated from the current state of research and a determination of critical nodes required to achieve those possibilities. Preventing or inhibiting existing national and global research endeavors is a difficult if not impossible. For these reasons, it may be more useful to understand the intended applications as well as their potentially malicious uses to ensure development of appropriate countermeasures. 

The committee is encouraged by the recent provisions of Presidential Decision Directive 63 that call for establishing a national center to warn owners and operators of critical economic and governmental infrastructures of terrorist threats. We hope that as the details of this center are developed, the medical community will not be overlooked. To enhance communication to and within the national medical community, the following R D needs have been identified ... 

Safety/Mission critical systems are required to demonstrate that operational capability is maintained for all the threat scenarios. Safety is to be demonstrated for ordnance, fuels and personnel. 

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