We spoke to Richard Roff, the Chair of Engineered System Hazards (IG2) Interest Group.
As the Chair of the IG 2, can you tell us what your group covers and the main purpose of it?
We aim to be a community of interest: our interest group shares knowledge and ideas about the management of risks that arise from engineered systems, trying to facilitate discussions across engineering and other technical disciplines.
This, of course, could include a very wide range of subjects and will overlap the other interest groups at times; we do try to focus on more significant hazards which result from the failure during expected modes of operation:
- of engineered equipment, constructions, products, processes or
- of systems of these, or
- in the control of these.
We are particularly interested in those failures that could lead to catastrophic incidents with any of the following consequences: significant injuries to people, significant damage to the environment, or large financial loss.
Can you tell us what sort of topics are discussed in your group?
Topic have covered or (are being considered):
- Process safety (process SHE) – general aspects of practice, leadership in this field, the possibility a ‘forum’ in civil engineering/construction/built environment to kick around similar concerns and more
- Cross-sector discussions on energy transition – wind turbine safety, biomethane / bio-derived chemicals and fuels, hydrogen application in energy transition, dangerous goods carriage and emergency response
- Machine learning and artificial intelligence – AI (and natural language processing) benefits and disbenefits of systems such as ChatGPT (crosses IG3) & link this to operational data-mining)
- Organisational learning – how can it be facilitated, use of data to look at inherent variability
- Structure safety in context of carbon reduction
- Collaborative reporting for safer structures (CROSS)
- Human factors – non-technical skills for designers, guidance on making engineering judgements (biases, considerations, approaches), upskilling for the future when resources are already tight (limited time available to pass on corporate knowledge), application across design, commission, deliver, operate, modify demolish, spotlight guidance from EI, other sectors such as aviation, design for wellbeing – lessons from architecture to apply in manufacturing and or operations
- Inherently safer processes – application of ERIC(PD) especially in design phase
- Building safety and its regulation
How often do you meet?
We have a call once every two months and may lead on an event (webinar or in-person) about once every 18 months. Other IG members will get involved in events connected to Hf but not delivered directly through the forum on a regular basis e.g. via professional engineering institutions.
Some IG members will be involved in joint interest group events such as the October 2025 session on cascading and interconnected hazards
What does a typical meeting look like?
A web call of about an hour and a half that may prompt members to bring their own thoughts and experiences to share on a subject or it may have a speaker with specific knowledge. We aim to facilitate:
- discussion between those with expertise and interested parties,
- the transfer of knowledge of good practice.
Can you tell us what sort of professionals are in your group and what sectors they work in.
We have engineers and other technical people engaged throughout the system lifecycle from design through construction and operation to decommissioning and demolition. Industry sectors covered include nuclear, pharma, chemicals, transport systems, built environment, materials testing and we have regulator representatives too.
What’s new in your group?
New organisations joining Hf mean there are different perspectives and approaches to share.
What are the plans for next year?
We will continue to work though our list of subjects for discussion – we review the list of future topics to make sure it is of interest to group members and relates to what is happening in the world. Interdisciplinary discussion, sharing and learning is key to what we do.
How can members of Hazards Forum join your group?
Get in touch with Anna, Luise or me.
