Computer Control and Human Error

by Trevor Kletz

Overview

Computer Control and Human Error presents accounts of various incidents at computer-controlled plants. These incidents include equipment and software faults; treating the computer as a "black box"; misjudging the way operators respond to the computer; errors in the data entry; failure to inform operators of changes in data or programs; and unauthorized interference with peripheral equipment. The discussion then turns to the use of hazard and operability studies (Hazops) to prevent or reduce errors in computer-controlled plants. The book describes the conventional Hazop as used in the process industry and an overview of the different Chazop frameworks/guidelines suggested by engineers and researchers. It then presents new Chazop methodology which is based on incident analysis. The final chapter presents reasons for failures in computerized systems, each of which is illustrated with an example. Most of the examples did not cause an actual safety problem, simply because they occurred within systems that are not safety-related. Some of these examples appear in the literature; others are from personal experience or from private communications.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780884152699
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	09/18/1995
Pages:	132
Product dimensions:	0.44(w) x 6.00(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

Trevor Kletz, OBE, D.Sc., F.Eng. (1922-2013), was a process safety consultant, and published more than a hundred papers and nine books on loss prevention and process safety, including most recently Lessons From Disaster: How Organizations Have No Memory and Accidents Recur and Computer Control and Human Error. He worked thirty-eight years with Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd., where he served as a production manager and safety adviser in the petrochemical division, also holding membership in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Loughborough University, Leicestershire, England. He most recently served as senior visiting research fellow at Loughborough University, and adjunct professor at the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center, Texas A&M University.

Table of Contents

PrefaceForethoughtIntroduction1. Some Incidents That Have Occurred, Mainly in Computer-Controlled Process Plants2. Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Studies Applied to Computer-Controlled Process Plants3. The Reasons Why Computer-Controlled Systems FailAfterthoughtsIndex

Editorial Reviews

For process plant engineers and those who design software for them, analyzes the role of human error in computer-controlled process plants, demonstrating how mistakes can occur and providing computer specialists with insight into the user's perspective. Presents detailed case studies of the causes and aftermath of disasters in state-of-the-art plants, and suggests how similar incidents can be avoided in the future. Also examines hazard and operability (Hazop) studies to detect risk. Nice cartoons. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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