Dr Mohammad Rajabali Nejad of the University of Twente is the inventor of the Safety Cube Method and the author of this Dutch Technical Agreement (NTA). The Safety Cube Method (SCM) describes a step-by-step process to accomplish integral safety. SCM builds upon the fundamental aspects of safety and security: the human, the technical system, the environment of the technical system, and their interactions. It learns from the past and prepares for the future. SCM identifies and controls risks through the entire lifecycle for simple products or complex systems. The method has now been awarded an official NTA by a unique cooperation between Dr Mohammad Rajabali Nejad and NEN (Stichting Koninklijk Nederlands Normalisatie Instituut).
The NTA has been developed in an experimental setting. The objective of this cooperation between Mohammad Rajabali Nejad and NEN Innovation Lab was to use and accelerate the standardization process whilst maintaining the quality level of NEN in standard development and meeting the essential steps in the normal NTA development process. The draft of the NTA was open to public comment for six weeks via normontwerpen.nen.nl. The output of this comment period has been elaborated on in the final document.
The steps for integral safety are explained in NTA 8287:2021. The lack of an integrated approach causes unsafety. For example, accidents can happen because of a fault in a cargo bike, a driver's mistake, environmental conditions, or a combination of them. By following the SCM steps manifested in this NTA, we are further supported to limit the safety risks as much as possible systematically.
Experiences from the field
“I first learned about the Safety Cube Method (SCM) from my master course, Safety by Design. I then applied it in my master research thesis on safety risk management of electrical energy storage systems. The Safety Cube Method was handy in comprehensively flushing out potential hazards related to system interfaces, which is essential in ensuring overall system safety. Best of all, the Safety Cube Method could integrate the other existing analysis tools such as the Preliminary Hazards Analysis (PHA) and the Design Structure Matrix (DSM).” Chua Eu Chieh (UT alumnus and Senior Consultant Asset Management Advisian)
“Through the UT course and a Capita Selecta related to the Safety Cube Method, I have been starting to understand the complex analysis that this approach provides. The method provides a ‘bigger picture’ of safety-related issues, how they can emerge from different sources and at different stages of product development. Either applied to an existing solution or during the design process, the method will shed light upon aspects that can only benefit the final product placed in the market.” Estefanía Moras Jimenez (UT student IDE)
More information
https://safetycube.com
The NTA 8287:2021 can be found in the webshop of NEN or in NEN Connect.
