Most of the common hazard analysis techniques used today date back to the 1950's and 1960's, with little change in the intervening years. These traditional approaches to hazard analysis are being overwhelmed by the increasing complexity of the systems we are building, by the introduction of digital technology and software, and by the increased reliance on distributed human-machine decision-making and control.
In this class, we will teach a new approach to hazard analysis called STPA that allows handling much greater complexity and the new types of technology common today. It also has the ability to consider the social and organizational ("safety culture") factors in accidents and incidents along with the technical.
STPA is being used successfully on complex systems today. The class will cover fundamental principles as well as examples and class exercises.
Dr. Nancy Leveson is Professor of Aeronautics and
Astronautics and Professor of Engineering Systems
at MIT. She is an elected member of the National
Academy of Engineering and has been working in
the field of system safety for 25 years.
Grady Lee is President of Safeware Engineering
Corporation. He has over 28 years of real-time
software development, system analysis, and system
safety experience.
Jeffrey Howard is a system safety engineer at Safeware
Engineering Corporation, where his responsibilities
include performing safety analysis and developing
tools to support safety-critical systems engineering.
Currently he is conducting an STPA analysis of a
complex defense system.
Cost: $750 for the two and a half-day class. Cost includes continental breakfast, lunch each day, snacks, and class materials.
For additional information contact:
For logistics information:
Registration: To register, please email the following information to leveson@mit.edu and judge@safeware-eng.com.