Safety Analyses of Complex Systems: Considerations of Software, Firmware, Hardware, Human, and the Environment

There is a need for more inclusive holistic approaches to identify and analyze safety-related system risks. Systems are becoming increasingly more complex, diverse, and vastly distributed. Conventional approaches of conducting hazard analyses and risk assessment do have limitations. This book addresses some of these limitations and a number of inclusive approaches are discussed, which can be applied against the limitations. The book emphasizes scenario-driven hazard analysis as a means to conduct more holistic analysis.

It discusses safety analyses of large complex systems; which are comprised of software, firmware, hardware, the human and the environment.  “System thinking” in problem solving is emphasized throughout the book. The book is comprised of three parts. The first part Risk identification covers topics including understanding risk, evaluating safety, and scenario-driven hazard analysis. The second part Risk elimination and control addresses eliminating risk and provides hazard control methods, techniques, and applications. Finally managing safety-related risks covers key concepts and observations associated with a safety management and other topics including making safety-related decisions.

At the end of each chapter there are “Questions and Topics for Further Discussion”, which enables the book to be used for graduate and undergraduate education, and specialized courses or instructional development.