ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on recognizing and controlling with specific human touchpoints the intrinsic operational hazards that are truly important for the safety of assets, i.e., Critical Steps. These are defined with very specific descriptors to make it easier to recognize them—to make sure the right things go right during transfers of energy, movements of mass, or transmissions of information that would harm assets if performed out of control. Certain “preceding actions,” (Risk-Important Actions), if not performed properly, could lead to a loss of control at a subsequent critical step. The chapter describes three practical management methods: Critical Step Mapping, pre-job briefings, and self-checking.
