Notes on Society History

Pathfinders of System Safety

Abstract

The beginnings of “organized, formally documented” system safety occurred during the years 1956 to 1966. The origins of the System Safety Concept (SSC) are summarized in “Historical Note No. 1,” which can be found on page 21 of the Spring/Summer 2014 Journal of System Safety.

In my opinion, this transformation of this concept into practice can best be summarized through brief biographies of five of the early pathfinders of system safety who, each in their own unique manner, some 50 years ago, conceived and implemented activities which today form the basis of our current practice of system safety.