From the Editor's Desk: GMOs

Clif Ericson

doi:10.56094/jss.v51i1.163

Authors

C.A. Ericson Risk-Logic

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56094/jss.v51i1.163

Keywords:

system safety, GMO, DDT, ecosystem, food chain

Abstract

How far does the system safety concept extend? Does system safety apply only to autos, trains, aircraft and weapon systems, or does it also apply to other types of systems, such as the ecosystem and the food chain system? Many years ago, Rachel Carson showed how DDT was an unsafe product, and how it contaminated our food chain and caused human diseases. It seems that there is now a similar controversy emerging. Genetically modified organics (GMOs) are common foods that have been genetically modified for various reasons — mostly for business gains rather than for health improvements. Monsanto, for example, has modified common food sources, such as soybeans, corn and wheat, to be able to survive the use of the commercial pesticide weed killer, Roundup. Farmers growing GMO foods can then regularly apply Roundup to kill bugs without damaging the crop. This sounds good and makes a lot of money for Monsanto, but the downside is that Roundup is now in these foods — and research is showing that the modified food has bad effects on test animals and, therefore, possibly on humans.

Author Biography

C.A. Ericson, Risk-Logic

Clifton Ericson II has 45 years of experience in the field of system safety, software safety, reliability, and fault tree analysis. He currently works for URS Corporation (formerly EG&G) where he provides technical analysis, consulting, oversight and training on system/software safety projects. He currently supports NAVAIR systems safety on the UCAS and BAMS unmanned aircraft systems, and he is assisting in writing NAVAIR system safety policies and procedures. Mr. Ericson was employed as a Senior Principal Engineer for the Boeing Company for 35 years. At Boeing, he worked in the fields of system safety, reliability, software engineering and computer programming. Mr. Ericson has been involved in all aspects of system safety, including hazard analysis, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), software safety, safety certification, safety documentation, safety research, new business proposals and safety training. He has worked on a diversity of projects, such as missile systems, people mover systems, commercial aircraft, B-1A/B-2 bombers, AWACS, EPRI solar power system, and the Apollo Technical Integration program.

He served as President and Vice-President of the System Safety Society and was Co-Chairman of the 16th International System Safety Conference. He is the founder of the Puget Sound chapter (Seattle) of the System Safety Society. In 2000, he won the Boeing Apollo Award for safety consulting work on the International Space Station, and the Boeing Achievement Award for developing the Boeing fault tree analysis course. Mr. Ericson won the System Safety Society’s President’s Achievement Award in 1998, 1999 and 2004 for outstanding work in the system safety field.

He is author of the books, “Hazard Analysis Techniques for System Safety” (2005) and “The Concise Encyclopedia of System Safety Terms and Definitions” (to be released in April 2011). He has published many technical articles in system and software safety and is currently editor of the Journal of System Safety (JSS), a publication of the System Safety Society. Mr. Ericson has taught courses on software safety and fault tree analysis at the University of Washington and in Singapore and Australia. (from clifericson.com)