Know the Risk: Learning from errors and accidents: safety and risk in today's technology

We live in a technological world, exposed to many risks and errors and the fear of death. Know the Risk shows us how we can learn from the many errors and tragic accidents which have plagued our developing technological world.This breakthrough volume presents a new concept and theory that shows how errors can and should be analyzed so that learning and experience are accounted for. The authors show that, by using a universal learning curve, errors can be tracked and managed so that they are reduced to the smallest number possible.The authors have devoted a number of years to gathering data, analyzing theories relating to error reduction, design improvement, management of errors and assignment of cause. The analyzed data relates to millions of errors. They find a common thread between all technology-related accidents and link all of these errors (from the headline stories to the everyday accidents). They challenge the reader to take a different look at the stream of threats, risks, dangers, statistics and errors by presenting a new perspective. The book makes use of detailed illustrations and explores many headline accidents which highlight human weaknesses in harnessing and exploiting the technology we have developed; from the Titanic to Chernobyl, Bhopal to Concorde, the Mary Rose to the Paddington rail crash and examine errors over which we have little or no control. By analyzing the vast data society has collected, the authors show how the famous accidents and our everyday risks are related.The authors prove the strength of their observations by comparing their findings to the recorded history of tragedies, disasters, accidents and incidents in chemical, airline, shipping, rail, automobile, nuclear, medical, industrial and manufacturing technologies. They also address the management of Quality and losses in production, the search for zero defects and the avoidance of personal risk and danger.

Stresses the importance of a learning environment for safety improvementPlaces both quality and safety management in the same learning contextLearn how to track and manage errors to reduce as quickly as possible

Romney is an internationally recognised scientist, manager, speaker, poet and author, having written over 140 papers and articles. Educated in England, he has over 30 years of international experience in the UK, USA and Canada of technological safety and risk assessment, system design and safety analysis. He is a leading expert in commercial nuclear reactor studies. After a distinguished career working in the US utility industry and government, and leading a not-for-profit Foundation, he is presently The Principal Scientist with AECL (Canada). He is Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and presently is Chair of the Nuclear Engineering Division, an active Member of the America and Canadian Nuclear Societies, and a past Chair of the American Nuclear Society Thermal Hydraulics Division. He has organized and chaired numerous international Conferences. He is active in global environmental and energy studies, and in advanced system design, and is currently leading work on advanced energy concepts.

is an internationally known engineer and author, having written many technical papers on aviation safety. He has over 40 years of experience of commercial aircraft certification, manufacturing, operations and maintenance, and is a leading expert in safety management and human error. He has held a pilot license for 30 years. He is presently the Executive Director of the International Federation of Airworthiness, after a distinguished career with the Air Registration Board and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, where he was Chief Surveyor and Head of Operating Standards. He is a Council Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Freeman of the City of London and Freeman of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators. He is an expert on maintenance practices and human error. He has organized and chaired numerous international industry-wide Conferences and Meetings.