Safe Systems improvements

Approaches to involve all the system designers, to motivate them to achieve their potential in supporting improved safety of the system plus the provision of tools to guide and assist their contribution to that task, are essential means to develop the movement toward Safe System achievement. A Safe System approach requires community understanding and support. Only then is there a likelihood that the community will demand and expect Safe System improvements. 

An assessment was also made on the level of formality applied to the systems invoked and whether or not all the elements proposed by the Safe Place, Safe Person, Safe Systems framework had in fact been addressed by the organization. The level of formality was also assessed to recognize where informal systems were used to manage risks, but did not contain a high level of documentation to record actions. This was undertaken to explore whether there was a connection between the level of risk reduction achieved and the use of formal systems, as well as to highlight areas for further growth or improvement. 

One of the prime reasons for operator certification training is to improve nuclear safety through a better understanding of the reactor -its processes and limitations. A study of the physical parts of the reactors helps this understanding. Procedures, automatic control systems, etc., are all designed to operate the reactor safely. However, as conditions change, the details of reactor construction. need to be re-evaluated to insure that what was once a safe system is still safe. 

There may be a nnmber of individuals who could be classified as users, e.g. operators, maintenance personnel, managers etc. and the user documentation needs to be relevant and intelUgible to them all. There is a tendency among non-specialists to view computers as black boxes . This view is not conducive to making optimum use of the system facilities and is unlikely to be alleviated by an incomprehensible user manual. Any process which will deepen understanding of the system will improve safely by improving the human reliability aspect. 

This research was carried out by a working group of the OECD International Transport Foram, composed of experts from several countries. The chapter starts by presenting the basic trends and figures of PTW mobility, use and safety. Then, a comprehensive review of PTW crash contributory factors is presented (user-, vehicle- or infiastracture-related). Subsequently, the integration of PTW in the Safe Systems approach is discussed, with particular focus on the challenges and particularities involved. Finally, the most promising individual measures for the improvement of PTW mobility and safety are outlined. 

The inclusion of motorcyclists into the Safe System yields two challenges. The first is the technical problem of providing protection from physical harm at the speeds at which collisions with other vehicles or fixed objects are likely. While this could be solved by ensuring travel speeds by, and in the vicinity of, motorcyclists are much lower, this then amplifies the second challenge. This is to ensure that any measures taken to improve motorcycle safety are supported both by the broader community and by motorcyclists in particular. 

The Safe System approach assumes that road users will enter the system competent and will take measures to ensure that they remain compliant and alert. Licensing, training, education, enforcement and commimication campaigns are essential tools for improving riding safety. It is also important, in a complementarily way, to enhance the road environment and the vehicles toward this safety objective. 

A safe system approach is required to improve the safety of PTWs... 

Once a task has been identified as hazardous, controls need to be applied. For complex tasks, analysis may be required to sort out the component parts of what is actually going to be done. This can result in task improvements and risk reduction. A formal technique for doing this is known as job safety analysis, which has developed from work study practices. Essentially, the task is observed, and broken down into steps or stages which are then examined for the level of risk involved (Table 6.1). Control measures are then worked out, and the paperwork is then used to generate a written safe system of work. Naturally, the tasks selected need to be reviewed at intervals to make sure that the analysis and solutions remain valid over time. 

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