Design-Based Safety: Reliability

David MacCollum

doi:10.56094/jss.v51i1.167

Authors

David MacCollum

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56094/jss.v51i1.167

Keywords:

reliability, autonomous, failure-free, Malaysia Airlines

Abstract

As both business enterprise and governmental activities become automated, reliability will be the measure of performance. The term “reliability” establishes an actual value of absolute dependable failure-free performance from all hazardous conditions or circumstances during a specific time period or cycles of operation. Reliability ensures for the reliable and safe design of products, facilities and systems of operation, production, construction, resource extraction, transportation and storage. To achieve reliability, design becomes the “Holy Grail of Safety.” The primary hindrance to achieving reliable safe performance is the intervention of human input. A choice of developing a reliable machine or system depends on either eliminating hazards that are activated by people or eliminating people with a completely autonomous system.

Author Biography

David MacCollum

David V. MacCollum, 96, was a past president of ASSE and was a member of the first U.S. Secretary of Labor’s Construction Safety Advisory Committee [1969-1972]. He specialized in safety research and technical assistance on high-risk hazards to enterprise, insurance companies, universities, trade associations, attorneys, and government for over 20 years and was involved in the development of rollover protections and other safeguards and innovative construction methods and procedures. Mr. MacCollum held a B.S. degree from Oregon State University and was a Registered Professional Engineer and Certified Safety Professional. (in memoriam)