Safety improvements by eliminating hazardous combinations

Abstract In this paper we suggest the hazardous combinations method to facilitate safety improvements in technical and technological systems by eliminating combinations of major risk factors. The method is capable to significantly improve the safety level in systems as compared to a common situation when only the root causes of accidents were analysed (usually with unsatisfactory results), or where the usual procedures proved to be ineffective due to organisational, technological or financial constraints. In many cases the management decides to implement costly safety measures which have eventually only a minor effect, if at all, on preventing severe accidents. By focusing on prevention of not all recognised primary risk factors but only their hazardous combinations, both human lives and significant financial resources may be saved.