Abstract
The paper follows the development of a general purpose
safety ontology (SAFEONTO) that could be used as a tool for safety learning and
also a framework for the study of various accidents and incidents happened at
work- turning this unexpected events into lessons learned.
Development of SAFEONTO
Based on previous experiences[i] we have
tried to develop a general framework for risk and safety, framework that could
be expanded as wished by any safety expert. The idea was to have a referential
that could be generally used in order to provide an instrument for training and
analysis for specific workplaces.
In order to do this we have used knowledge maps built using
CMAP TOOLS- and also the PROTEGEE tool for the ontology development.
What should include a general knowledge map?
-details
about the economic activity that generates risks;
-data
about the worker(s) and the machines used in order to perform that activity;
-some
details about the workplace and its specificity;
As we have more data- a transition from general to specific
would be made easy. Figure 1 shows the concept behind the ontology. All these
building elements are used to develop best-worst case models- that allow us to
establish the optimal safety requirements.
Figure 1 Main concepts
of the ontology
Figure 2 shows the knowledge map developed as a start-up for
the ontology.
Figure 2 Start-up
knowledge map
Any economic activity (that could be specifically described)
is done by workers (employees) using tools at the workplace. Such an activity
is generating risks.
On the next step we have introduced the consequences of the
risks, as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3 Risk
development and consequences
One step further we have introduced the safety lane.
Figure 4. The activity
and safety lanes
Now we have a functional framework for the ontology. This
framework could be developed further as far as is necessary.
On the last step of development we introduce also a use case
lane.
Figure 5. The complete
knowledge map
The use case is taken from an investigation report and could
be automatically transformed into lesson learned.
A further step in the development process would be turning
the ontology into a decision assistant system.
The next figure shows the list of concepts.
Figure 6.List of
concepts introduced in the ontology
CONCLUSIONS
Our instrument could be used:
1. to analyse specific unexpected events that are occurring
at the workplace;
2. to transform them into lessons learned- in order to
improve safety and health at the workplace;
3. to develop specific models that could be used for the
decision process;
4. to use the instrument for safety training;
As the main benefits:
-the ontology is model-based, allowing integration of design
and safety analysis;
-safety considerations could be introduced early in the
development phase
-use of Semantic Web and Ontology standards;
-semantics based interoperability at a language and tool
level;
-Web-ready;
