Safe-by-Design in Engineering: An Overview and Comparative Analysis of Engineering Disciplines

Abstract

In this paper, we provide an overview of how Safe-by-Design is conceived and applied in practice in a large number of engineering disciplines. We discuss the differences, commonalities, and possibilities for mutual learning found in those practices and identify several ways of putting those disciplinary outlooks in perspective. The considered engineering disciplines in the order of historically grown technologies are construction engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, urban engineering, software engineering, bio-engineering, nano-engineering, and finally cyber space engineering. Each discipline is briefly introduced, the technology at issue is described, the relevant or dominant hazards are examined, the social challenge(s) are observed, and the relevant developments in the field are described. Within each discipline the risk management strategies, the design principles promoting safety or safety awareness, and associated methods or tools are discussed. Possible dilemmas that the designers in the discipline face are highlighted. Each discipline is concluded by discussing the opportunities and bottlenecks in addressing safety. Commonalities and differences between the engineering disciplines are investigated, specifically on the design strategies for which empirical data have been collected. We argue that Safe-by-Design is best considered as a specific elaboration of Responsible Research and Innovation, with an explicit focus on safety in relation to other important values in engineering such as well-being, sustainability, equity, and affordability. Safe-by-Design provides for an intellectual venue where social science and the humanities (SSH) collaborate on technological developments and innovation by helping to proactively incorporate safety considerations into engineering practices, while navigating between the extremes of technological optimism and disproportionate precaution. As such, Safe-by-Design is also a practical tool for policymakers and risk assessors that helps shape governance arrangements for accommodating and incentivizing safety, while fully acknowledging uncertainty.

Development of Framework for Estimating Fatality-Related Losses in the Korean Construction Industry

“…The 17 cost items consisted of the following: (1) income loss cost, (2) tax, (3) health insurance, (4) national insurance, (5) employment insurance, (6) human cost, (7) medical care benefits, (8) temporary disability compensation benefits, (9) survivor's benefits, (10) funeral service expense, (11) workers' compensation insurance, (12) settlement cost, (13) others, (14) penalty, (15) fine, (16) delay reimbursement cost, and (17) administrative loss cost.…”

“…The construction industry is considered to be very important to the economies of most developed and developing countries, as construction is one of the key contributors to national economic growth [1][2][3][4]. For example, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2020), approximately 4.5% (USD 6760 billion) of gross production (USD 151,268) in the United States occurs in the construction industry as of 2019 [5].…”

Adopting Safe-by-Design in Science and Engineering Academia: The Soil May Need Tilling

“…This arguably requires from researchers and educators that they direct attention to implementing a more societally inclusive research and innovation process and display the appropriate accompanying attitude. Particularly, these aspects of SbD show affinity with RRI [ 14 , 19 ], as a governance framework that emphasizes the importance of anticipation, reflection, inclusiveness, and responsiveness in steering research and innovation towards processes and outcomes that are socially desirable, environmentally sustainable, and morally acceptable [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. SbD may therefore be seen as an operationalization of RRI, with a focus on the value of safety.…”

“…Although the concept is still under development and open to multiple interpretations [ 13 ], SbD appears to hold the potential to provide a common anchor for the deliberation on and promotion of safety in innovation across different technological spheres, populations, and phases of innovation [ 14 ]. Although a growing body of research is emerging on the scope and practical implications of SbD in nanotechnology, biotechnology, and engineering [ 8 , 9 , 15 ], it is still largely unclear as to what extent researchers in these fields are willing and able to adopt the concept.…”

Circles of Care for Safety: A Care Ethics Approach to Safe-by-Design

“…Simultaneously, however, they are also a source of risks and uncertainty. In an attempt to handle safety issues pro-actively, the concept of Safe-by-Design has been introduced [1][2][3][4]. Although the idea of designing Abstract Safe-by-Design is an approach to engineering that aims to integrate the value of safety in the design and development of new technologies.…”