Thanks for responding; I appreciate the input.

I’m not entirely sure of the issue you display, but what I think I’m seeing is that there are two groups you have to work with that support differing standards. In a major way, it is the same issue; in another, it is not.

Bear with me here: what I’m hearing here is that you have a group at work that wants to use the PHA, while you were trained (I’m assuming, here) in the other, higher standards.

It looks like both look at accident prevention, no? It would seem to me that both would be appropriate questions, considering the stuff you work with: “What IS the current standard of your readiness for an accident?” and “what would happen IF an accident would happen — and what would be needed to respond to that accident?” Also, “what COULD lessen the severity of that accident?” All of these would be appropriate questions.

In the situation you are in, I can see the conundrum; in the public technology arena, though, from what I write — the situation is entirely different: people don’t want to learn — or apply themselves whatsoever at all: they want it all done for them — for nothing, I might add…

In essence, I think that, while you saw my issue, you have another issue that is related to mine that you are responding to; my issue is different in that I’m referring to attitude rather than policy: you have a mix of attitudes, education and physics — with a little bit of government thrown in for good measure, which is a totally different story: it’s more like apples and oranges — the similarities are in that they are both fruit.

I was referring to individual attitudes about learning contemporary tools, not in applying standards to work.

I hear your point, though: I feel for you.

I am an Instrument and Control technician, proficient in electrical and electronic design and construction in dangerous areas. The Standards I use are the National Electrical Code, NEC 70, published by the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, whose Codes are THE standard.

Our Loss Prevention (Saftey) department uses a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) approach. Whereas the PHA asks, “What if?”, the NFPA asks, “What IS?”

I have to deal with both of these concepts when trying to do the best I can and therein lies the rub!