System Safety for the 21st Century, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 10Risk Management

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this chapter is to further explore the current future areas of system safety and the latest application into the larger area of risk management (RM). According to the definition in the Air Force System Safety Handbook, system safety is “… the application of engineering and management principles, criteria, and techniques to optimize all aspects of safety within the constraints of operational effectiveness, time and cost throughout all phases of the system life cycle.” However, the management portion has not been given the emphasis that it deserves, and hence this chapter. Overall, this chapter addresses the types of risk and RM, then discusses safety risk, and finally outlines an application to a health care enterprise.

Relatively new and interesting is a recent concept of integrating and standardizing the approach to the overall RM function internationally and within the U.S. government that can be applicable to any enterprise. The method is strikingly similar to that system safety professionals have been using for more than 50 years, so it should not appear that innovative.

TYPES OF RISK

Those of us who are accustomed to the system safety process over the years are familiar with RM. And in this chapter perhaps the chapter title should be better stated as integrated RM. In my opinion, the “new” area of RM is simply the integration of formerly separated RM elements of an enterprise.

Safety Risk

“Pure” hazard includes the ...