Citation

Manuele FA. Process. Saf. Environ. Prot. 2006; 84(3): 184-190.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Institution of Chemical Engineers and European Federation of Chemical Engineering, Publisher Hemisphere Publishing)

DOI

10.1205/psep.05083

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper makes the case that to achieve risk reduction effectively: the first steps are to identify and evaluate the hazards and assess the risks deriving from them; then, a logically supported, feasible, hierarchical series of control measures should be undertaken to reduce risks; and the risk reduction measures should be encompassed within a sound problem solving technique. The combination of the hierarchy of controls and the problem solving technique is called The Safety Decision Hierarchy. Outcomes to be achieved through the application of The Safety Decision Hierarchy are given, as well as the logic of taking risk reduction steps in the order set forth. Comments are made on cases in which engineering measures did not achieve expected results because of psychosocial work situations and how specialists in occupational psychology and organizational psychology can help to resolve circumstances of that sort.