Please note: Your Final Case Study has two components, the Final Case Study Assignment and
the Final Case Study Peer Review.
Assignment Submission Now that you have a good background in systems safety, let’s put all that newfound knowledge to good use and do a complete analysis of a system. Pick any system you are somewhat familiar
with. It can be something you work with on a daily basis or it can be something you just read that interests you. The choice is yours.
Provide a brief synopsis of your system and what it is designed to do. Then provide a complete analysis of the system from a systems safety standpoint. You can analyze the entire system if it
isn’t too big or you can do a subsystem, which is a part of the whole. Your analysis should include the following:
A PHA Impact of each item in the PHA (i.e., what can happen if it is not mitigated)
Risk Analysis Matrix Pick at least two of the items identified in your PHA and use any of the tools we have covered to
analyze them. A detailed report to your boss: In this report be sure to provide your operating assumptions and
recommendations for how to correct what you found.
Thinking in terms of the two items you picked, tell how often they should be reevaluated
throughout the life cycle of the system and why.
Realize this isn’t just a narrative. Your analysis should include the applicable charts, such as a
PHA, PHL, or fault tree for example. You must have some of the actual diagrams you used to
make your assumptions.
Your Instructor will evaluate your analysis based on the Case Study Rubric.
Save your assignment using a naming convention that includes your first and last name and the
activity number (or description). Do not add punctuation or special characters. Your Final Case
Study is due at the end of Module 8.
Your paper will automatically be evaluated through Turnitin when you submit your assignment in
this activity.
Most of the modules in this class contain case studies that you will complete. As mentioned in
the intro video, this class uses a building block process to introduce you to the techniques used
by systems safety professionals to completely analyze a system. The specific directions for
accomplishing these case studies are contained in each module.
Discussion forum responses should reflect a Master’s level of understanding of the topic and
should demonstrate the ability to put this understanding into a well thought out discussion of the
topic with supporting references, where needed. References are not required in your discussions
but if you use something from an outside source, be sure to cite and reference it appropriately.
Bottom line here is put what you are saying into your own words and attempt to teach all of us in
the class something new. If you go into it with that approach, you should be fine.
General rules for all case studies – The case studies are designed to allow you to use the
techniques you have read about each of the module readings. There are two basic requirements
for each case study:
Every one of the case studies requires some form of a chart to be done. For example, in Module
2, you must construct a Preliminary Hazard List (PHL) just like the one shown in the samples in the class textbook. In Module 6, you must construct a full Fault tree analysis chart, again just like
what is shown in the textbook. Now, if you don’t have a program that allows for building an FTA
chart and are having a hard time formatting it, then there is nothing wrong with drawing it out
legibly and submitting it that way. Realize that sometimes rapidly getting the information
presented to the boss for action is more important than taking the time to make it pretty.
A report to your boss outlining what you have found and your thoughts on it. Your report should
include sections that tell the boss what you found, and analysis of why what you found is
important and needs to be addressed, and finally what needs to be done to correct the issues
you found or what is needed to bring it into compliance. This report should be a minimum of 1 to
2 pages in length and double spaced. These reports may require correctly APA formatted
references and citations depending upon what information you used to draft your report.
Your assignment will automatically be evaluated through Turnitin when you submit your
assignment in this activity. Turnitin is a service that checks your work for improper citation or
potential plagiarism by comparing it against a database of web pages, student papers, and
articles from academic books and publications. Ensure that your work is entirely your own and
that you have not plagiarized any material!
Hazard Analysis Techniques for System Safety
Edition: 2nd
Year: 2015
ISBN: 978-1-118-94038-9
Author: Clifton Ericson II
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
Edition: 6th
Year: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4338-0561-5
Author: American Psychological Association
Publisher: American Psychological Association
Note: For further information, see the APA website.
Note: The following materials are available for free. Links to these items are also located in the
activities within the course which require the specific sources.
Basic Guide to System Safety
Edition: 3rd
Year: 2014
ISBN: 978-1-1184-6020-7
Author: Clifton Ericson II
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Note: This ebook is free through the ERAU Hunt Library.
Air Force System Safety Handbook (PDF)
Note: Available through the Air Force Safety Agency
System Safety and Risk Management: A Guide for Engineering Educators (PDF)
Note: Available through the CDC