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Abstract
Effective "engineering for safety" lies in the ability of the engineers, who typically control the design process, to understand and to apply the basic principles of the safety profession. Traditionally, engineers design a facility, a piece of machinery, or an entire process for the occupants, operators and end-users. While this design work must occur, the negative side to the traditional practice is the lack, or even absence, of consideration of other people who inevitably will be affected by the design. The goal of incorporating safety into all levels of the design process is not impossible to achieve. However, it does require a shift in how industry implements the design process. Engineers need to include hazard analyses and risk assessments at the beginning of the design process. They must be trained in safety so that they are able to identify, evaluate and control hazards. The process of designing for safety is most effective on new designs, but has been used with great success in solving safety problems with existing equipment and facilities.