I would like to carry forward a discussion on this topic as an extension of the discussion from the HSR Forum. I wish to make people aware that the Safety Case is only as good as the level of input and preparation that is put into it's development. I would stress that it is paramount to have effective consultation with the workforce that will be working under the provisions of the SC. The development of the SC is a partnership. There are several stakeholders and the value and effectivesness of the SC will be directly proportional to the level of input that each of the stakeholders can contribute to it's development.
In my opinion the workforce are the most likely to be able to indentify hazards and risks and are also the most likely to be able to offer effective preventative and mitigative measures. This will help to lower those identified risks to ALARP. To gain the most benefit from workforce consultation there is a need to train the participants in those aspects of SC development they will participate in. I would like to hear from anybody that has any suggestions as to the content of the SC training required for participants in Safety Case development.
When the SC is compiled to the satisfaction of the Operator it is then sent to the regulator ( NOPSA ) for assessment. The regulator asesses the SC against a set of criteria to ensure it meets the overall requirements of the legislation and regulation . This assessment does not measure the effectiveness of the SC and it should be noted the SC is owned by the Operator and not the regulator. Subtle difference but it is important. IT IS THE OPERATORS SC. The regulator has a limited time to assess the SC under the regulation and therefore can only assess it from a relatively high level. The regulator at a later stage carries out inspections at the facilities against the accepted SC. The inspection will generally take a slice of the SC and test against it.
This brings me to my point of vulnerability. The SC is generally only going to be as good as the effort put into its development. Don't expect the regulator to be the one to ensure that the SC will be a panacea for all ills within your organisation. It is not their role. It is the role and responsibility of the operator to develop an effective and useful SC to identify the hazards and risks at the facilities and to lower those risks to ALARP. It should also include a process for ongoing continuous improvement. So, to get the most out of a SC it is imperative that the workforce participate in its creation. For the workforce to participate in an effective manner it is imperative that they undergo some training before they participate in the development or maintenance of a SC.
I urge you to ensure your employer/operator involves your workforce in the development and maintenance of the SC and that the workforce representatives are well trained to perform this role.
I am hoping to continue this thread to seek feedback from HSR's as to what they think should be included in the training for those involved in SC development.
