The writer in this book examines what is currently known about building safe electromechanical systems and looks at past accidents to see what practical lessons can be applied to new computer-controlled systems. Preface, The Nature of Risk, Risk in Modern Society, Computers and Risk, A Hierarchical View of Accidents, Root Causes of Accidents, Human Error and Risk, The Role of Human in Automated Systems, Introduction to System Safety, Foundations of System Safety, Fundamental of System Safety, Definitions of System Safety, Definitions and Models, Terminology, Accident and Human Error Models, Elements of a Safeware Program, Managing Safety, The System and Software Safety Process, Hazard Analysis, Hazard Analysis, Hazard Analysis Models and Techniques, Software Hazard and Requirements, Analysis, Designing for Safety, Design of the Human-Machine Interface, Verification of Safety, Epilogue: The Way Forward, Appendices, Medical Devices: The Therac-25 Story, Aerospace: Appolo 13 and the DC-10 and Challenger, The Chemical Industry: Seveso and Flixborough and Bhopal, Nuclear Power: Windscale and Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, References, Credits, Index.