Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

What system of safety analysis uses deductive reasoning?

1. Event tree analysis

2. Fault tree analysis

3. Hazard and operability study

4. Failure mode and effects analysis

The correct answer is: Fault tree analysis

The system of safety analysis that utilizes deductive reasoning is fault tree analysis. This method begins with a potential undesirable event, known as the top event, and works backward to identify the various contributing factors and failures that could lead to that event occurring. By employing deductive reasoning, analysts can systematically break down the relationships between the various causes of failure, often depicted in a tree-like structure that graphically represents the logical connections. Fault tree analysis is particularly effective for understanding complex systems and determining how different failures can combine to produce a single incident. It allows safety professionals to identify critical failures and prioritize them for risk management and mitigation strategies. This structured approach helps in evaluating the reliability of systems and improving safety measures. In contrast, other methods like event tree analysis follow a more inductive approach, starting with initiating events and exploring the possible outcomes.