HAZARD ENGINEERING

Hazard is defined, in its most general form, as an incubating set of p re-conditions to failure. It is argued that safety, risk and reliabili ty in technological systems can only be managed indirectly through the direct management of hazard. These processes are limited in effective ness if they are considered only in the context of particular projects or industries. For maximum effect, hazard management should be throug h a ''full hazard system'' which extends beyond the physical, organisa tional and operational boundaries of, for example, construction projec ts, shipping operations and manufacturing plants. A generic model of h azard, which is not dependent on a particular industrial context, is o utlined. It is proposed that, from this perspective, risk and reliabil ity analyses are part of a formal discipline of hazard engineering.