Barrier management refers to the process of ensuring that the controls an organisation intends and expects to have in place to protect against losses are actually capable of doing the job, are properly implemented, and are supported and maintained such that they will function as expected when needed.
Recognising both the rapid growth in the use of Bowtie Analysis (a diagrammatic method for identifying, visualising and analysing the risks and barriers associated with adverse events), and the lack of current standardisation or established good practice, CIEHF has prepared a white paper providing recommendations on how human factors issues should be treated in barrier management in general, and in Bowtie Analysis in particular.
The white paper is intended mainly for those with corporate or asset-level responsibility for the development, implementation, and assurance of safety and environmental management systems. Typical users will include health & safety professionals, regulators, and technical and operational managers.
Structured into four major sections, the paper sets out 33 recommendations to improve the development, implementation and management of the human performance aspects of barrier management systems, and it should be of value in many sectors.
Reading this helps me understand where we could develop our bow ties, to help better understand human involvement and where assurance may best be targeted. Most helpfully it potentially offers a route to developing leading indicators that relate to our output.
I. S.
Download your free copy
The white paper is free to download. Request a copy by completing the form below, after which you will receive a link to the paper by email.