DevSafe Consulting, LLC
Supporting the System Safety Professional
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DevSafe Consulting, LLC Supporting the System Safety Professional |
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I have done a fair amount of communication on the topic of System Safety presenting my perspectives and opinions. They serve to provide further detail on the mission and approach of DevSafeConsulting. Links to these articles are provided below. Not only are the articles themselves intended to educate, the comments and subsequent interactions provide valuable perspective.For those without LinkedIn access, I have provided pdf versions of the content for you to access. Enjoy.
The System Safety Challenge
A charge to industry to return the system safety function to its intended implementation based on learnings from the ICBM program of the 1950's and 60's and system safety concepts described in MIL-STD-882.
The intent of this series is to create common ground for further discussion at the business senior leadership level on fundamental aspects of the system safety profession to better address the safety issues currently facing the industry.
The Missing Links of System Safety
A charge to members of the system safety profession to place focus on critical aspects of the system safety process as described in MIL-STD-882, particularly as they apply to the product development lifecycle phase.
The intent of this series is to identify topics that I believe do not get the focus they deserve in industry
- Part 1 - The Risk Managing Authority (RMA)
- Part 2 - The Hazard Tracking System (HTS)
- Part 3 - The Safety Working Group (WG)
- Part 4 - The Risk Assessment Matrix (RAM)
- Part 5 - The Software Criticality Index (SwCI)
- Part 6 - Human Factors and Safety (O&SHA)
- Part 7 - The System Safety Program Plan (SSPP)
- Part 8 - Reforging the Links
System Safety - A Profession in Crisis
At the 2025 International System Safety Summit and Training in Minneapolis, MN, a paper was presented by TJ Candy on the topic of "System Safety - A Profession in Crisis.
The intent of this presentation was to make a case for characterizing the system safety profession as operating in a crisis mode. This conclusion is substantiated by observations presented in the paper from the perspective of a system safety professional and instructor. The main thesis is that the system safety profession is in crisis primarily due to a loss of fidelity to the founding principles of the systems safety discipline as discovered in the post WWII ICBM and aerospace product development programs. This crisis is compounded by a lack of suitably trained and certified system safety professionals in industry and by the exodus of many experienced safety experts to retirement, disillusionment and death.
After the presentation, TJ was invited to participate in a podcast on the topic where key points from the paper were given and a question and answer portion with Simon Whiteley of Whiteley Aerospace and Management, LTD
The Physics of System Safety
At the upcoming 2026 International System Safety Summit and Training in Huntsville, AL between August 17-20, 2026, a follow on paper will be presented to discuss the foundational 'physics' of System Safety as observed in industry and exposure to a more global perspective provided by students at the USC System Safety courses.
The intent of this paper is to describe the "Five Laws of System Safety" as well as some key observations supporting these laws to seek a consensus opinion on their validity. The ultimate goal is to ask individuals and organizations to use these laws as yardstick to compare their system safety function and determine if action is needed to align with these laws.
Plans are in the works to hold another podcast after the presentation for discussion and a question and answer session
- Abstract
- Technical Paper - Coming Soon
- Technical Presentation - Coming Soon
- Podcast - Coming Soon
Other LinkedIn Articles
The following are as series of recent LinkedIn articles on the topic of System Safety.
The intent of this series is to provide perspective as well as create common ground for further discussion within the system safety community on how these critical areas are implemented and need to be addressed to better face the safety issues currently facing the industry.
LinkedIn access required to read individual articles and read comments. The pdf only provides the article content.
- We Don't Compete On Safety
- The DevSafe 5 Laws of System Safety
- System Safety Approaches
- Disambiguating the "S" Word
- System Safety in a Nutshell
- Reliability and Safety - Fraternal Twins
- The Unintended Competition - Engineering vs System Safety
- How long are you planning to stay in System Safety?
- Eyes Wide Open to Safety
- "You get the Safety effort you pay for"
- 10 Commandments of System Safety
Other System Safety Resources:
- International System Safety Society (ISSS) - Professional System Safety Society begun in 1963 to support system safety discipline.
- Virtual Chapter - Linked In site (requires LinkedIn account)
- USC Viterbi Aviation Safety & Security Program - Offering Certification programs in System Safety and other specialized safety topics
- The Safety Artisan - Global-level safety training with excellent on-line resources.
- Whitely Aerospace Safety & Management Limited - Excellent resource for STAMP/STPA/CAST analysis and general safety consulting
Version: 2.4