ABSTRACT
The method of demonstrating safety in any given function—be it operational, organizational, financial, construction, and so forth—varies in phraseology, form, and output. The core reason for the demonstration, however, is the same: to identify the hazards in the function; assess the risks posed by those hazards; and provide suitable control measures to mitigate those risks. The influence of human factors on safety has been a subject of academic study and discussion for decades, starting primarily with the concept of how human error was a primary causation of accidents. There are several core factors that are key to understanding the environs to any existing or planned control measures. As with any type of system, there are two caveats: firstly, the system should only be as complicated and complete as the organization it is describing, and secondly, it will only ever be as valuable as the information recorded in it.
