8. Eighth Lesson: Indicators for Major Accident Risk

Conventional wisdom has long assumed that the major accident risk directly correlated with occupational accident statistics. Yet, the facts tell a different story. This lesson focuses on major accident risk indicators that could maintain high levels of awareness, motivation and emphasis on prevention against potential major accidents. The lesson begins by clarifying indicator concepts and definitions. In response to the conceptual confusion surrounding indicator concepts, the authors advocate adopting the terms of precursor indicator and barrier indicator. Then, the lesson explores the need for major accident risk indicators, emphasizing their particular characteristics. After that, a comprehensive set of evaluation criteria for major accident risk indicators is proposed and discussed to avoid the “garbage in-garbage out” problem. Finally, major accident risk indicators for the nation and enterprise are recommended. The lesson equips readers with the theoretical foundation as well as practices in the development and application of major accident risk indicators.