A Complexity Assessment Methodology for Programmable Electronic Mining Systems

Details

• Personal Author:
  Sammarco, John J.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Pittsburgh Research Laboratory
• Description:
  Mining, traditionally a low-tech industry, is now utilizing surprisingly complex programmable electronic (PE) systems. The functional safety of PE-based mining systems is an international issue and concern. From 1995 to 2001, there were 11 PH-related mining incidents reported in the U.S. and 71 PH-related mining incidents reported in Australia. These incidents are due, in part to unprecedented levels of system complexity. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is addressing this issue of system complexity by conducting research to develop a quantitative complexity assessment methodology based on Normal Accident Theory (NAT). The methodology models the behavioral interactive complexity at the level of system requirements. A graph-theoretical approach is used for creating quantitative metrics from Software Cost Reduction (SCR) dependency graphs. This complexity assessment methodology will help realize simpler, safer systems that will be easier to validate and verify. The methodology will benefit mining and other industries as well. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Mining Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Safety Management
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: System Safety Complexity Metrics Mine-disasters Mining-industry Normal Accident Theory Occupational-hazards Programmable Electronics Safety-measures Safety-monitoring Safety-programs Safety-research

  More +
• Source:
  Proc 20th Int Sys Saf Conf, August 5-9, 2002, Denver, CO 2002 Aug; :177-186
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• Publisher:
  The System Safety Society
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PRL - Pittsburgh Research Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  177-186
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20023439
• Citation:
  Proc 20th Int Sys Saf Conf, August 5-9, 2002, Denver, CO 2002 Aug; :177-186
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2002
• NORA Priority Area:
  Work Environment and Workforce: Emerging Technologies
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:26f315feca41f6611fa670fd42c00a539e31e0fb2888c7ef7b8f5c64da37ffdcac5563a1ee6c9e912ebb9c961788de79e7f3b52642a2842e8cf7f24273cfafc3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/8515/cdc_8515_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 280.11 KB ]