Chapter 12 – Role of the Risk and Reliability Manager

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a preliminary understanding of the role of a risk and reliability manager, and of the way in which such a manager can start to approach his or her responsibilities. This has a major impact on how the elements of management, such as planning, motivating, organizing, and controlling are approached, and the success achieved with them. These are all interrelated and are briefly outlined in the chapter in relation to the management of process plant risk and reliability. Motivation depends greatly on whether the risk and reliability manager is a “manager” or a “consultant.” Organizing entails assembling information about the resources needed to complete the required tasks, the human and material resources available, and the priorities of the various tasks. It also explains authority and responsibility for performance. Authority is the power to decide and to act; it is the power to get things done. Responsibility is the liability to be called to account. Some management situations and tactics, such as the “Law of the Situation”, establishing influence in “No Man's Land”, and resolution of disagreement are discussed in the chapter. This chapter also deals with the lines of inquiry for a risk and reliability manager, and dealing with the public. In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities.