Chapter 8 – Safety Cases

This chapter discusses the development, management and maintenance of a formal Safety Case (sometimes referred to as an HSE Case). The use of this approach in different industries is covered, along with the major features of a safety case. Topics covered include the role of the duty holder, the safety management system, timing and the determination of acceptable risk. Practical guidance for the writing of a Safety Case is provided. The role of major accident analysis and safety critical elements is described, as is the methodology provided by the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) and an eight-section structure for the different Safety Case phases (design, operations and decommissioning). The chapter concludes with a discussion of how the Safety Case and SEMS approaches to offshore safety appear to be converging.