Barrier management refers to the process of ensuring that the
controls an organisation intends and expects to have in place to protect
against losses are actually capable of doing the job, are properly
implemented, and are supported and maintained such that they will
function as expected when needed.
Recognising both the rapid growth in the use of Bowtie Analysis (a
diagrammatic method for identifying, visualising and analysing the risks
and barriers associated with adverse events), and the lack of current
standardisation or established good practice, CIEHF has prepared a white
paper providing recommendations on how human factors issues should be
treated in barrier management in general, and in Bowtie Analysis in
particular.
The white paper is intended mainly for those with corporate or
asset-level responsibility for the development, implementation, and
assurance of safety and environmental management systems. Typical users
will include health & safety professionals, regulators, and
technical and operational managers.
Structured into four major sections, the paper sets out 33
recommendations to improve the development, implementation and
management of the human performance aspects of barrier management
systems, and it should be of value in many sectors.