Introducing socio-technical safety barriers for hydrogen systems

As a result of work carried out within HYINHEAT, we are pleased to share the peer-reviewed open-access publication “Introducing socio-technical safety barriers for hydrogen systems”, published in IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science.

Abstract

The deployment of hydrogen technologies requires safety approaches capable of addressing the complexity and emerging risks associated with hydrogen systems. Traditional safety barriers are generally based on a Safety-I perspective, focusing primarily on failures and on preventing or mitigating unwanted events. However, hydrogen applications can be understood as complex socio-technical systems in which technical, human and organisational factors interact and adapt over time.

This study introduces the concept of socio-technical safety barriers for hydrogen systems, extending conventional barrier approaches by considering the system as a whole rather than focusing exclusively on individual technical components or failures. The proposed approach incorporates principles from Safety-II and resilience engineering to better address the adaptive and emergent characteristics of complex hydrogen systems.

The methodology is demonstrated through the analysis of a hydrogen jet fire experiment, building on a Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) model to examine interactions and variability within the system. By considering technical equipment alongside human, operational and organisational factors, the approach aims to support the identification of more effective safety barriers and ultimately improve the resilience of hydrogen systems against emerging risks.