Critical Aspects of Safety and Loss Prevention

This book, aimed at giving an insight into the cause of industrial accidents and methods of prevention, is a collection of nearly 400 observations, illustrated with accounts of accidents and based on the author's experience in production and safety.

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The book is a collection of nearly 400 thoughts and observations on safety and loss prevention, illustrated by accounts of accidents, and based on the author's many years of experience in production and safety. The items, mostly short, are arranged alphabetically and cross-references are provided. Some of the items deal with equipment such as valves and tanks; some are the names of places, such as Flixborough and King's Cross where accidents have occurred; some are the names of abstractions such as management and inspection: a few are the names of people or organizations such as DuPont or ICI. The book is written in a readable style and is intended for reading, or dipping into, and not just for use as a work of reference. There is a bias towards process safety, as the author spent his career in the chemical industry, but the views reflect his managerial experience as well as his experience as a full-time safety adviser. The book will therefore be useful to all who work in design, operations and maintenance as well as safety professionals.
The purpose of the book is to prevent accidents by spreading the knowledge the author has acquired during many years in industry on the reasons why accidents occur and the action needed to prevent them.