1.4 safety cases and safety reports

NEBOSH International Technical Certificate in Oil & Gas Operational Safety

Module 1.4An Organization is documented evidence to provide a convincing and valid

argument that a system is adequately safe

Module 1.4

An Organization is documented evidence to

provide a convincing and valid argument

that a system is adequately safe




The potential for major industrial accidents, which

has become more significant with the increasing

production, storage and use of hazardous

substances, has emphasised the need for a clearly

defined and systematic approach to the control of

such substances in order to protect workers, the

environment, the public and the installation.




Defining the Safety Case / Safety Report

concept

A safety case/report can be defined in the following terms:

‘A documented body of evidence that provides a convincing

and valid argument that a system is adequately safe for given

application in a given environment’




Aim of the Safety Case/Report

The purpose of a safety case/report can be defined in the following terms:

A safety case/report should communicate a clear, comprehensive and defensible argument that a system is acceptably safe to operate in a particular context.




Important aspects of the definition

‘Argument’ – Above all, the safety case exists to

communicate an argument. It is used to demonstrate

how someone can reasonably conclude that a system is

acceptably safe from the evidence available





‘Clear’– A safety case/report is a device for

communicating ideas and information, usually to a third

party (e.g. a regulator). In order to do this convincingly, it

must be as clear as possible.





‘System’ – The system to which a safety case refers can be

anything from a network of pipes or a software

configuration to a set of operating procedures. The

concept is not limited to consideration of conventional

engineering ‘design’





‘Acceptably’– A absolute safety is an unobtainable goal.

Safety case / reports are there to convince someone that

the system is safe enough ( when compared against some

definition of tolerable risk).





‘Context’ – Context-free safety is impossible to argue.

Almost any system can be unsafe if used in an

inappropriate or unexpected manner. It is part of the job

of the safety case to define the context within which

safety is to be argued.




Safety Case / Report

�History of the document�Application�Identifies the treats to an installation and it’s personnel�Submitted from early development through to decommissioning � Safety Case/Report is an overarching document�Available to all employees�Summary documents & reviews increase general understanding and awareness




Typical headings within a Safety case/report

�Scope�System description�System hazards�System requirements�Risk assessment�Hazard control / Risk reduction measures�Safety analysis / test�Safety management system�Development process justification�Conclusions




Past NEBOSH Question

Safety cases and safety reports provide documented

evidence that an oil and gas installation is safe

Outline the typical content of these types of documents.

(8)




Safety Case/Report

Typical content includes:

�Major accident hazards have been identified.�Provide information on ‘extent and severity’ i.e. hazard and consequences�Evaluation of all major accident risks including measures taken to control those risks�Necessary measures are in place to prevent accidents and limit consequences�Adequate safety and reliability have been incorporated into the design and construction, operation and maintenance




Safety Case/Report

�Emergency plans have been drawn up�Management and organisational issues must be considered�An adequate safety management system�Including management of contractors and sub-contractors� Need to show that residual risks are ‘as low as reasonably practicable’ (ALARP)�Arrangements for audit and audit reports�(major accident prevention policy (MAPP) in the case of COMAH safety reports




Past NEBOSH Question

Outline the main issues to be addressed in a major

accident prevention policy (MAPP) document required

under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations

2005. (8)




MAPP

�Sets out policy on the prevention of major accidents�Rules and responsibilities �Training�Hazard identification and risk assessment �Procedures and instructions for safe operation�Design and modification of installations�Identification of foreseeable emergencies and the preparation test and review of emergency procedures.




MAPP

�Measuring compliance (including system for reporting

and investigating accidents)

�Review and audit

�When it is to be updated




Safety Case & Safety Report

�Similar aims

�Similar legislation

�Similar content

�Consider handout




Audit

�Remember that your safety management system

depends on you actually doing what you say you will do

�The competent authority will make regular inspection

to check

�It is prudent to do internal audits of your system

1.4 safety cases and safety reports

Documents