The causes of catastrophic accidents in the process industries, now recognized as complex and interrelated, need to be matched by multi-faceted technical management systems. These principles apply to companies of any size and to a full range of industries beyond the chemical industry, such as pulp and paper, electronics, oil and gas. This book supplements the systematic approach to process safety management set out in previous CCPS publications -- A CHALLENGE TO COMMITMENT, GUIDELINES FOR TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT OF CHEMICAL PROCESS SAFETY, and PLANT GUIDELINES FOR TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT OF CHEMICAL PROCESS SAFETY.