Transportation Systems Safety HAT

The U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe National Transportation Systems Center will make a new software tool that can assist transportation professionals in conducting hazard analyses. The Safety Hazard Analysis Tool (SafetyHAT) is a software tool that facilitates System Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA). STPA is a hazard identification method based on a top-down system engineering approach and control systems theory. It provides an algorithmic and well-guided analysis process that identifies the causes of system hazards, including hardware component failures, software errors, complex system interactions, human errors, and inadequate organization management, policy, and procedures. The output of STPA and SafetyHAT is a list of identified causes of hazards that can be used to:

• Develop safety requirements and testing scenarios
• Initiate risk analysis, risk control, and system assessment activities
• Design and assess safety solutions