Accidents are exactly that: Accidents. As we have seen from technical disasters from Chernobyl to the Space Shuttle to Deepwater Horizon, and now Fukushima Daiichi, when complex systems are impacted by a never before imagined sequence of individual failures, catastrophic consequences may result.
Accidents, almost by definition, cannot be avoided. In fact, research shows that the safer a system is made, the more vigilant and well trained are the operators, when an accident does occur, it will be catastrophic.
Safety cannot be measured by an absence of accidents, which is largely dependent on luck. Safety is the result of constant, active identification of hazards and their elimination. Near misses are not testimonials to safe practices.
We cannot stop all accidents. But we can minimize their impact on human life, property, the environment, and to livelihoods with knowledge.
Risk assessments will give you that knowledge.
At woody.com, we can find the best consultants in the world to do technical risk assessments for nuclear, oil and gas, chemical, and natural hazard risk projects.
We have contacts with the best probabilistic risk analysis and probabilistic safety consultants: professionals who understand uncertainty and provide you with risk management programs to make sure that your facilities are safe.