[SystemSafety] Critical Design Checklist

[Martyn Thomas]

On 26/08/2013 21:37, Driscoll, Kevin R wrote:
>
> For NASA, we are creating a Critical Design Checklist:
>
> .       *Objective*
>
> -     *A checklist for designers to help them determine if a
> safety-critical design has met its safety requirements*
>
>
Kevin

For this purpose, I interpret your phrase "safety requirements" for a
"safety-critical design" as meaning that any system that can be shown to
implement the design correctly will meet the safety requirements for
such a system in some required operating conditions.

Here's my initial checklist:

1. Have you stated the "safety requirements" unambiguously and
completely? How do you know? Can you be certain? If not, what is your
confidence level and how as it derived?
2. Have you specified unambiguously and completely the range of
operating conditions under which the safety requirements must be met?
How do you know? Can you be certain? If not, what is your confidence
level and how as it derived?
3. Do you have scientifically sound evidence that the safety-critcal
design meets the safety requirements?
4. Has this evidence been examined by an independent expert and
certified to be scientifically sound for this purpose?
5. Can you name the both the individual who will be personally
accountable if the design later proves not to meet its safety
requirements and the organisation that will be liable for any damages?
6. Has the individual signed to accept accountability? Has a Director of
the organisation signed to accept liability?

Of course, there is a lot of detail conceled within these top-level
questions. For example, the specification of operating conditions is
likely to contain detail of required training for operators, which will
also need to be shown to be adequate.

But there's probably no need to go into more detail as you will probably
get at least one answer "no" to the top six questions.

What will you do then?

Regards

Martyn


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