HCRQ
System Safety, Software Safety Experts
Since 1986

"The Key To A Safer World"
salus populi suprema lex




Training

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Webinar
System Safety Program Plans - The Complete Story

A Presentation By David (Hunter) Levan

Clients, does your contractor's SSPP have gaping holes?
Just how much are they committing to do?

Contractors, are you confident with what your SSPP commits you to doing?

Management, legal council, how exposed is your organization?
How might some of the SSPP statements be interpreted?

Fact - easily 80% of the SSPPs that we have seen, throughout our 20+ years of operation, have had serious flaws and omissions.

This webinar provides you with so much insight, it should fulfill most of what you need for both the System Safety Management Plan (SSMP) and the SSPP.

This webinar is presented by renowned system safety expert David (Hunter) Levan. Simply stated "When Hunter speaks - everyone listens."

For more information click here


Webinar
Preliminary Hazard Analysis & Hazard Tracking

A Presentation By David (Hunter) Levan

This is a comprehensive seminar on Preliminary Hazard Analysis & Hazard Tracking.

For more information click here


Webinar
Operating & Support Hazard Analysis - The Complete Story

A Presentation By David (Hunter) Levan

This is a comprehensive seminar on Operating & Support Hazard Analysis.

For more information click here


More Webinars pending very soon!


FACT - We have been teaching safety courses for 16 years.
FACT - Our courses are superior to others and we receive standing ovations.
FACT - Our instructor is world-famous for his knowledge and experience.
QUESTION - What do Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have in common?
ANSWER - They are both repeat clients of our safety courses.
QUESTION - Why look elsewhere for training?





Introduction

HCRQ offers training courses covering all aspects of system safety and software safety.

Our courseware is exceptional.

Our instructor is world-famous having expertise in system safety and software safety AND experience in the safety-critical sectors of:

  • Defense
  • Avionics
  • Transportation
  • Nuclear Power
  • Medical Devices
  • Process Control

THERE ARE HCRQ SAFETY COURSES; THEN THERE ARE THE REST.

Many of our attendees are repeat clients. Why?

  • We have a long history teaching these courses.
  • Our teaching is backed up by extensive experience.
  • They received more than they expected.
  • They are comfortable with us.
  • They have attended others' courses and been sadly disappointed.
  • They welcome the practical insight inherent in our courseware.
  • We are very conscious of money.
    • Safety costs money.
    • Our clients do not have bottomless pockets.
    • It is very easy to burn money if inappropriate approaches are taken.


PLEASE NOTE: Courseware outlines undergo revision from time to time,
so feel free to click where indicated to request a current version.

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We teach our courses 
overseas too

Our courses are available
to be taught on-site worldwide

  • allowing you to schedule courses at times convenient for you,
  • saving you money on travel costs,
  • saving your time in travelling,
  • training people as a team,
  • providing you access to your office,
  • providing you confidentiality, and
  • focusing specifically on your needs.

On-site courses have taken us to places such as Spain, England, Sweden, Germany, France, Japan, and Canada.

If you have a minimal number of interested people, this arrangement is very economical!

Click here to receive On-Site Software Safety Course brochures.

Click here to receive On-Site System Safety Course brochures.



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Refresher Courses (1-day)

Taken one of our courses before? Perhaps it is time for a refresher course!

Click here to receive Software Safety Refresher Course brochures.

Click here to receive System Safety Refresher Course brochures.

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Customized Courses

Do you want a course customized to your exact requirements? We provide this service. We can adjust both course content and course duration.

Two of our clients, in this regard, were Cattron-Theimeg (Safety-Critical Software Development) and the U.S. Army (Software Safety). Thus far this year, Sikorsky has booked one.

Click here to receive information regarding A Customized Software Safety Course.

Click here to receive information regarding A Customized System Safety Course.

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Webinar Training

Interested in saving money on training?

Can't justify the time spent in transit for short during courses?

Training and travelling budgets are not what they used to be.

With few exceptions, people want or the material demands, interactive training.

HCRQ has the answer to these dilemmas - webinar training .

Schedule your course.

During the course you will see the presentation on your computer screen.
{A hard copy of the course material is sent to you in advance.}
You hear the instructor and interact with him by telephone or via an internet voice link.

Get ready to save money.
If you are located overseas, be prepared to save even more.

We will send you more information if you click here {please tell us which course is of interest to you}.

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Course Note Updates

Taken one of our courses before? Perhaps you would like to order updated course notes!

Click here to receive information regarding Updated Software Safety Course Notes.

Click here to receive information regarding Updated System Safety Course Notes.

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Scheduled Courses - 2008

Webinar - SSPPs
Twice per month - 1st Monday and 3rd Monday

Webinar - PHA & Hazard Tracking
Twice per month - 1st Tuesday and 3rd Tuesday

Webinar - O&SHAs
Twice per month - 1st Wednesday and 3rd Wednesday

Webinar - Consulting For Success
Twice per month - 1st Monday and 3rd Monday

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Testimonials

These are a few of the testimonials we have received from our reputable clients:

"Thank you for teaching a great course.
I really enjoyed it and learned a lot that will be directly applicable to my upcoming project."
- Raytheon attendee


"I want to extend my thanks for your well-organized and informative course.
We are now much better prepared to handle all the safety-related issues on our project."
- Lockheed Martin attendee


"An excellent, informative course.
The instructor was first class."
- CAE attendee


"The course was top notch.
The instructor thoroughly addressed each and every question we directed his way."
- U.S. Army attendee


"Last year we burned our training budget on someone else's course.
It proved to be a waste of time and money.
Your course is much better, more practical and we received an enormous amount of information."


"Thanks so much for presenting your system safety training course.
I very much enjoyed it and think that it was very much worthwhile.
You are clearly experienced and knowledgeable and, moreover, you have an affable, encouraging, and accommodating manner."

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System Safety Course - 3 Day

This is a comprehensive, practical course which covers a large number of areas.

Insight into this area is based on years of experience planning, and executing System Safety Programs for all types of safety-related systems.

Our course instructor has managed System Safety Programs, encompassing multiple subsystems, from system conception through design, test, installation, commissioning and operation.

This course has become a prerequisite course for contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.

  • Clients, contractors and subcontractors are then assured that those working for them have been well trained.

For on-site offerings, emphasis on different topics varies depending on audience interest and on the safety-critical sector.
Within some areas, particular audiences will have no interest, partial interest or great interest.
Course recipients inform us in advance of their desired emphasis so that the instructor arrives prepared and additional pertinent material is brought to the course
(e.g., MIL-STD-882 or SAE ARP 4761 or MOD 00-56; PHA or HAZOP; development assurance levels or safety integrity levels).
When the recipients are unsure, the instructor has sufficient insight into all of the safety-critical sectors such that he can orient the course appropriately.

We will send you a set of brochures if you click here.

Scheduled Courses

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System Safety Course - 5 Day

This is a very thorough, practical course provides excellent coverage of MIL-STD-882.

It covers the elements of this standard in depth (e.g., SSPP - 1/2 day).

Insight into this area is based on years of experience planning, and executing MIL-STD-882 System Safety Programs.

Our course instructor has managed System Safety Programs, encompassing multiple subsystems, from system conception through design, test, installation, commissioning and operation.

We will send you a set of brochures if you click here.

Scheduled Courses

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Software Safety Course - 3 Day - Since 1992

This is a mature, comprehensive and very practical course.

This course has been attended by many large organizations from around the world. Some of the organizations include:

  • Canadian Space Agency
  • Computing Devices Company
  • Federal Railroad Administration
  • General Dynamics
  • Lloyd's Register
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Naval Surface Warfare Center
  • Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  • Raytheon
  • Rockwell
  • Westland Helicopters
  • U.S. Army

Another organization was Spar Aerospace (now MD Robotics) who developed the Mobile Servicing System (MSS), an essential component of the International Space Station. We taught them 3 courses.

Insight into this area is based on over 18 years of experience in software safety. We are renowned experts in software safety and also some of its earliest pioneers.

This course includes first-hand insight into software-related accidents and lessons learned.

For on-site offerings, emphasis on different topics varies depending on audience interest and on the safety-critical sector.
Within some areas, particular audiences will have no interest, partial interest or great interest.
Course recipients inform us in advance of their desired emphasis so that the instructor arrives prepared and additional pertinent material is brought to the course.
When the recipients are unsure, the instructor has sufficient insight into all of the safety-critical sectors such that he can orient the course appropriately.

Are you ready to be impressed?

Check out our long list of clients. See why some of them have come back 2, 3, 4 times for group training!

We will send you a set of brochures if you click here.

Wait until you see our course outline!

See why we have received standing ovations!

Scheduled Courses

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Avionics System Safety Course - 3 Day

This course covers the SAE ARP4761 approach to system safety assessment.

Topics covered include Functional Hazard Assessment (FHA), Preliminary System Safety Assessment (PSSA), System Safety Assessment (SSA), Common Cause Analysis (CCA), Development Assurance Levels (DALs), Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMRs), Minimum Equipment Lists (MELs), DO-178B, and DO-254.

Practical insight is provided together with a discussion of the difficulties that can be encountered applying the assessment techniques.

System safety is a key element of airworthiness. For this reason, when we think of system safety, we think of safety relative to flying the aircraft. There are other types of safety though. There is safety as it applies to the crew and passengers, there is safety as it applies to maintaining the aircraft, there is safety as it applies to the environment, and there is safety as it pertains to health hazards. These additional aspects of safety assessment are discussed as well.

We will send you a set of brochures if you click here.

Scheduled Courses

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Signal and Train Control System Safety - 49CFR236 Subpart H - 3 Day

This system safety course focuses on 49CFR236 Subpart H.

Insight into this area of safety is based on system safety and software safety experience on systems such as the IDOT PTC and EIC PRT.

Due to the narrow audience for this course, it is only available for on-site or webinar training where there are a minimum number of attendees.

We will send you a set of brochures if you click here.

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A Perspective On Software Safety Assurance - 1/2 Day

This seminar is a presentation of various approaches to software safety assurance, their effectiveness and their shortcomings.

Insight into this area of safety is based on over 18 years of experience in the safety-critical sectors of defense, avionics, nuclear energy, transportation and medical devices.

We will send you a brochure if you click here.

Scheduled Courses

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Applying EN 50126, EN 50128 and EN 50129 To Existing Systems - 1/2 Day

The three rail standards:

  • EN 50126 / IEC 62278 (Railway Applications - The Specification And Demonstration Of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS));
  • EN 50128 / IEC 62279 (Railway Applications - Communications, Signaling And Processing Systems - Software For Railway Control And Protection Systems); and
  • EN 50129 (Railway Applications - Communication, Signaling And Processing Systems - Safety Related Electronic Systems For Signaling)

are examples of application sector standards referred to by IEC 61508 (Functional Safety of Electrical/Electronic/ Programmable Electronic Safety-Related Systems).

This seminar describes how these standards can be applied to existing systems (e.g., U.S. products targeting the European market).

We will send you a brochure if you click here.

Scheduled Courses

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Come to Williamsburg for your training. There are other things to do here as well - Busch Gardens.

Fault Tree Analysis Course - 2 Day

You've asked for it. HCRQ is responding to that need!

This is a "soup-to-nuts" course on Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) - hands-on!

Each student is equipped with a computer, printer and FTA software!

  • Theory is one thing.
  • Samples help.
  • Paper exercises go one step further but ...
    • there is no substitute for hands-on training.
  • You want the "rubber to hit the road"!
  • You want to return to work and start producing professional FTAs immediately
    • and this means more than just producing the trees.

FTA can imply different things to different people as reflected by the wide range of depths of analysis that exist.

In industry,

  • event representation,
  • quantitative analysis,
  • fault tree verification,
  • traceability,
  • minimal cut set generation, and analysis,
  • common cause analysis, and
  • supporting material

varies dramatically as does fault tree quality.

There are many poor FTAs out there, produced even by some of the largest corporations. They suffer from incompleteness, inaccuracy, invalid base event probabilities, and sometimes too much detail. Some are just plain cuckoo. If they have not been already, they will someday be fodder for their customer, some consultant, an auditor, or some expert witness and it will be easy pickings.

We will show you how to produce quality FTAs.
We will show you how to produce accurate FTAs.
We will show you how to produce traceable FTAs.
We will show you how to produce FTAs economically.

This course is backed by over 19 years producing and reviewing FTAs.

This course is backed by over 15 years teaching FTA.

This course is taught by a renowned system safety/software safety engineer.

We will send you brochures if you click here.

Appreciating that this is not a portable course, it will be held here in Williamsburg, VA.

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Rail Transit System Safety Course - 1 -Day

This course describes how to provide system safety assurance during the phases of:

  • Design,
  • Construction,
  • Installation,
  • Test & Commissioning (T&C), and
  • Operations & Maintenance (O&M).

It also addresses how system integrators should manage, and integrate the efforts of, subcontractors of safety-related subsystems.

It is based on first-hand knowledge and experience managing rail system safety programs.

We will send you a brochure if you click here.

Scheduled Courses

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Rail Transit System Security Course - 1 Day

This course describes the process by which security should be designed into rail transit systems such as those serving America's international airports.

We will send you a brochure if you click here.

Scheduled Courses

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Software Fault Tree Analysis & Software FMEA - 1 Day

This course covers the software safety analysis techniques of Software Fault Tree Analysis (SFTA) and Software FMEA (SFMEA).

Practical insight into these areas is conveyed based on over 18 years of experience.

We will send you a brochure if you click here.

Scheduled Courses

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Software Safety Program Plans - 1/2 Day

This is a comprehensive seminar on Software Safety Program Plans.

The Software Safety Program Plan (SwSPP) is subordinate to the System Safety Program Plan (SSPP). This document is often incomplete or non-existent.

If you think that IEEE 1228 is the answer, guess again.

Insight into SwSPPs is based on over 18 years of experience in software safety in the safety-critical sectors of defense, avionics, nuclear power, transportation, and medical devices.

We will send you a brochure if you click here.

Scheduled Courses

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System and Software Safety - Lessons Learned - 1/2 Day

Seminars like this one come once in a lifetime.

Start with first-hand insight into the THERAC-25 cancer therapy machine.

Add 18 years of experience in system and software safety.

Add in experience in the sectors of nuclear energy, transportation, medical devices, avionics and defense.

Add in exposure to a mixture of system safety and software safety programs - some good, some bad, and some that started off good and deteriorated along the way - perhaps concurrent with the projects running out of money or falling behind schedule.

Add in experience with systems which, regretfully, required post-mortem analyses.

Add in exposure to safety programs which lost sight of the goal, perhaps becoming driven more by efforts to comply a standard, the achievement of particular safety integrity levels or the attainment of allocated probabilities of failure.

Add in a long history teaching the practical application of system safety and software safety concepts.

This seminar is a presentation of lessons learned designing safety into and assessing the safety of safety-related systems.

This is a time for listening.

This is a time for learning.

This is a time for asking.

We will send you a brochure if you click here.

Scheduled Courses

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System Safety For Rail Transit System Acquisition - 1 Day

Whenever a customer specifies, purchases and oversees the design of rail transit systems there is a risk that passenger, operator and public safety has not been adequately assured by the transit system supplier.

This course addresses this concern by identifying potential loopholes and providing guidance to the purchaser of these types of systems (e.g., transit authorities).

Would you like to know what to watch for? This course addresses:

  • What Could Be Missing
  • What Could Be Biased
  • What Could Be Indefinite
  • What Could Be Undefined
  • What Could Be Too Subjective

Question: Do rail transit system consulting organizations, having domain knowledge, know enough about system safety and software safety?

Answer: Our knowledge in system safety and software safety easily exceeds that of transportation consulting firms.

This course is based on first-hand knowledge and experience with rail transit systems and associated system safety programs.

Speaking of system safety programs, do you know how many safety program plans should be in place for a rail transit system?

DO YOU HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO NOT ATTEND THIS COURSE?

We will send you a brochure if you click here.

Scheduled Courses

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System Security Program Plans & Threat & Vulnerability Analysis - 1 Day

This course covers System Security Program Plans and Threat & Vulnerability Analyses (TVA).

These are the fundamental elements of a System Security Program.

We will send you a brochure if you click here.

Scheduled Courses

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Train Electronic Hardware and Software Safety - 49CFR238.105 - 1/2 Day

Section 105 of 49CFR238 poses compliance challenges to applicable rail subsystem suppliers.

In terms of software, this section requires:

  • A safety program (i.e., a software safety program plan)
  • Description of the design process
  • Description of the design documentation
  • Description of the hazard analysis
    • including FMECA (i.e., software FMECA)
  • Description of the safety reviews
  • Description of hazard monitoring and tracking
  • Verification testing of components and their interfaces
  • Comprehensive integration testing

This seminar describes the insight that has been gained and how compliance with 49CFR238.105 is being approached by software safety consultants with 49CFR236 Subpart H experience.

We will send you a brochure if you click here.

Scheduled Courses

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