ABSTRACT
While alarms and warnings are always likely to be important, the consequences of the failure of an alarm system in managing a major hazard process safely in our sector, the chemical industry, can be disastrous, affecting workers and the public alike. It is also important to remember that alarm systems need to be seen in their full context. For example the inherent safety of the design, appropriate redundancy and diversity of design, management of change, and the correct allocation of function between automatic systems and the operator(s) should also be considered.
