Safety-Management Systems

There are several industry and international standards that address safety-management systems. These standards are well harmonized and based on the proven quality-manage ment principles. Consensus electrical safety standards in North America by themselves can be implemented within the context of a safety-management system standard, be it a consensus or a company proprietary standard. NFPA 70E and CSA Z462 identify this and provide reference to safety-management systems standards. Electrical engineers and specialists may not be expert in safety-management systems. Safety professionals may not be expert in electrical safety. Senior and middle management control priority, budgetary, and staffing decisions critical to electrical safety program effectiveness. An organization intent on achieving real improvement in its electrical safety program should avoid delegating the design and implementation of the program to its electrical experts and consider a joint effort involving electrical subject-matter experts, safety profes sionals knowledgeable in safety-management systems, and key members of management. Within the IEEE commu nity, we have the opportunity to enhance the content of IEEE 3007.3 to help advance the concepts related to safety management systems, continuous improvement, PtD, and application of comprehensive hazard control measures.