Introduction to Safety Science

Translated from the German by Herrmann, H.

For many years "safety technology" has constituted the essential instrument for the prevention of accidents as a direct result of handling new technology. Its awareness of the interactions prevalent in natural science causes safety technology to act on the basis of actual accidents, and it Ulilizes to their fullest extent any means provided by the engineering sciences. Man proceeds in a general direction towards preselVation and improvement, thus working towards the optimization of the technical design. However. a new set of basic problems presented itself the moment new large-scale technologies were introduced into the areas of processing, energy, and traffic, thereby creating a considerable amount of ad ditional danger potential. This also signified the end of an era when safety technology could be practiced chiefly on the basis of accident statistics. For ethical reasons it became necessary that a credible prognosis as to the type and effect of accidents took the place, or at least supplemented, the hitherto practiced purely reactive methods. The realization that the available means of safety technology were no longer sufficient in a highly technologized environment spurred the demand for entirely new concepts which would eventually lead to a higher degree of safety. A decisive step had to be taken away from a purely technical approach and fOwards and all-encompassing look at accident systems, because man had become aware of the fact that accidents will always be a part of the interaction between man, technology, and environment.

Translated from the German by Herrmann, H.

Klappentext

For many years "safety technology" has constituted the essential instrument for the prevention of accidents as a direct result of handling new technology. Its awareness of the interactions prevalent in natural science causes safety technology to act on the basis of actual accidents, and it Ulilizes to their fullest extent any means provided by the engineering sciences. Man proceeds in a general direction towards preselVation and improvement, thus working towards the optimization of the technical design. However. a new set of basic problems presented itself the moment new large-scale technologies were introduced into the areas of processing, energy, and traffic, thereby creating a considerable amount of ad­ ditional danger potential. This also signified the end of an era when safety technology could be practiced chiefly on the basis of accident statistics. For ethical reasons it became necessary that a credible prognosis as to the type and effect of accidents took the place, or at least supplemented, the hitherto practiced purely reactive methods. The realization that the available means of safety technology were no longer sufficient in a highly technologized environment spurred the demand for entirely new concepts which would eventually lead to a higher degree of safety. A decisive step had to be taken away from a purely technical approach and fOwards and all-encompassing look at accident systems, because man had become aware of the fact that accidents will always be a part of the interaction between man, technology, and environment.

Zusammenfassung
Translated from the German by Herrmann, H.

Inhalt

1. Functions and Goals of Safety Science.- 2. Special Definitions.- 2.1. Damage.- 2.2. Danger, Endangerment, and Safety.- 2.3. Accident-like Occurrences Involving Damage.- 2.4. Source of Danger, Danger Field, Danger Potential, and Potential of Endangerment.- 2.5. Risk.- 3. Cybernetics and the Science of Safety.- 3.1. The Basics of Cybernetics.- 3.2. Cybernetic Approach of the Science of Safety.- 3.3. Systems Engineering as a Tool for the Evaluation of a Technical Plant as a Cybernetic Instrument.- 3.4. Mathematical Simulation.- 4. Safety Analysis.- 4.1. Tasks and Aims.- 4.2. Safety Analysis Work Methods.- 4.3. Qualitative Safety Analysis.- 4.4. Quantitative Safety Analysis.- 5. The Machine as a Safety Factor.- 5.1. The Machine Under Operational Stress.- 5.2. The Operational Behavior of the Machine.- 6. Man as a Safety Factor and as an Object of Protection.- 6.1. Medical Aspects.- 6.2. Psychological Aspects.- 6.3. Ergonomics.- 6.4. Education and Training.- 7. The Environment as a Safety Factor and an Asset Worthy of Protection.- 7.1. Natural and Civilizatory Factors.- 7.2. Environmental Strain Through Accidents in Technical Installations.- 7.3. Environmental Factors Influencing a Technical Installation.- 8. Safety Legislation.- 8.1. The Concept of Safety Legislation.- 8.2. The Goals of Safety Legislation.- 8.3. The Prevention of Damage Through Governmental Protection Measures.- 8.4. Safety Legislation and Technical Standards.- 8.5. Correlations Between the Purpose and the Effect of Safety Rules.- 8.6. The Limits of Safety Standardization.- 8.7. Extralegal Limits.- 8.8. Trends in the Development of Safety Legislation.- 9. Social Aspects of Safety Science.- 9.1. Technology Assessment.- 9.2. Risk Acceptance.- References.