USA provides the expertise to answer the challenge of applied Systems Safety regardless of the complexity of the system(s).   

 Systems Safety involves all aspects of systems operation.  A mistaken belief is that Systems Safety and Process Safety are synonymous.  Certainly, Process Safety is a key element of Systems Safety.  However, Process Safety, taken alone, is not sufficient to provide an effective Systems Safety Program.  As shown below, an effective Systems Safety Program involves hardware hazards identification and analysis, process analysis, human/machine interface analysis, and environmental analysis.

Detailed analysis of the elements of Systems Safety include the identification of all hazards associated with each element, the inter-relationships of hazards between elements, the analysis of the worse-case event that can result if a hazard is allowed to manifest itself, and the likelihood that the event will occur.  The information derived from these analyses is used to develop controls for each hazard and the operational constraints that may be required.

A Risk Matrix is used to quantify the severity of the hazard and the standard actions to be taken should it occur.  An example of this matrix is shown below.  As shown, the matrix is used to determine a Risk Assessment Code (RAC) for each hazard. This RAC is used to reference standard actions to be taken to remediate a hazard and any required off-site notifications and action approvals that may be required.

The intent of the USA Systems Safety process is to provide information-based decision making support in managing the risks associated with the operation of complex equipment.  The USA Systems Safety approach will analyze these potential problems before they occur, prescribe a standard set of actions to be taken by on-site operations personnel, and describe any regulatory or company procedures that must be followed should the hazard be encountered.  These prescribed actions can be made available in both hard copy procedures or computer-based procedures and actions that will allow instantaneous access.