Difference between revisions of "Safety and Security"

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Although safety and security are terms that describe a ''state'', they can also be used to describe a ''form of protection'' (the actions or measures taken to improve that state).
 
Although safety and security are terms that describe a ''state'', they can also be used to describe a ''form of protection'' (the actions or measures taken to improve that state).
   
=== Distinction between safety and security ===
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===Distinction between safety and security===
 
[[File:hard_hat.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A hard hat, a typical safety measure against accidents]][[File:Locks.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Locks, a typical security measure against wilful acts]]The distinction between [[safety]] and [[security]] lies in the type of threat that is at the source of the risk. While security concerns risk due to [[human intent]] (wilful harmful acts), safety concerns all other risk. Shortly put, safety concerns protection from ''accidents'', security concerns protection from ''crime''.
 
[[File:hard_hat.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A hard hat, a typical safety measure against accidents]][[File:Locks.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Locks, a typical security measure against wilful acts]]The distinction between [[safety]] and [[security]] lies in the type of threat that is at the source of the risk. While security concerns risk due to [[human intent]] (wilful harmful acts), safety concerns all other risk. Shortly put, safety concerns protection from ''accidents'', security concerns protection from ''crime''.
   
 
This means that whether a measure is a security measure or a safety measure, depends on the type of risk it is ''meant'' to mitigate. A reinforced window for example can be both:
 
This means that whether a measure is a security measure or a safety measure, depends on the type of risk it is ''meant'' to mitigate. A reinforced window for example can be both:
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* When installed to prevent harm coming to the inhabitants coming from a gas tank accidentally exploding, it would be a safety measure.
 
* When installed to protect the inhabitants from terrorist explosions, it would be a security measure.
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*When installed to prevent harm coming to the inhabitants coming from a gas tank accidentally exploding, it would be a safety measure.
 
*When installed to protect the inhabitants from terrorist explosions, it would be a security measure.
   
 
A measure can also serve as a security and a safety measure at the same time. An example can be found in a door: the fire-delaying properties of the door might serve as a safety measure while the fact that it is protecting against unauthorised entry is a security measure.
 
A measure can also serve as a security and a safety measure at the same time. An example can be found in a door: the fire-delaying properties of the door might serve as a safety measure while the fact that it is protecting against unauthorised entry is a security measure.
   
== Entry points for safety and security ==
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==Entry points for safety and security==
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* Constituent elements of [[risk]]:
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*Constituent elements of [[risk]]:
 
**[[Likelihood]]
 
**[[Likelihood]]
 
**[[Vulnerability]]
 
**[[Vulnerability]]
 
**[[Impact]]
 
**[[Impact]]
* Sources of risk ([[Threat]]s)
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*Sources of risk ([[Threat]]s)
** [[Safety|Safety threats]]
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**[[Safety|Safety threats]]
** [[Security|Security threats]]
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**[[Security|Security threats]]
*** [[Security issues|Security issues for the urban planner]]
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***[[Security issues|Security issues for the urban planner]]
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***[[Security issues for Law Enforcement Agencies]]
*** [[Crime]]
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***[[Crime]]
* Measures
 
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***[[Terrorism]]
** [[Measures|Types of measures]] against risk and their categorisation
 
 
*Measures
** Effectiveness of measure types can be found on each of the measure type pages
 
 
**[[Measures|Types of measures]] against risk and their categorisation
* [[Security#Relevance of security for the urban planner |Relevance of safety and security to the Urban Planner]]
 
 
**Effectiveness of measure types can be found on each of the measure type pages
* [[Risk#Objective and subjective risk|Objective and subjective risk]]
 
 
*[[Security#Relevance of security for the urban planner |Relevance of safety and security to the Urban Planner]]
* Urban risk, threat/hazard determination and risk assessment methods
 
 
*[[Risk#Objective and subjective risk|Objective and subjective risk]]
 
*Urban risk, threat/hazard determination and risk assessment methods
 
**[[Concept level tools#Risk Assessment tool (SecuRbAn)|Securban]]
 
**[[Concept level tools#Risk Assessment tool (SecuRbAn)|Securban]]
** [http://www.unisdr.org/campaign/resilientcities/toolkit/howto UNISDR Local Government Self-Assessment Tool (LGSAT)]
 

Latest revision as of 14:04, 4 September 2020

This page provides information about content and use of the Vitruv tools

Safety and security are two concepts that both indicate the level of protection against risk.

Description

Although safety and security are terms that describe a state, they can also be used to describe a form of protection (the actions or measures taken to improve that state).

Distinction between safety and security

A hard hat, a typical safety measure against accidents
Locks, a typical security measure against wilful acts

The distinction between safety and security lies in the type of threat that is at the source of the risk. While security concerns risk due to human intent (wilful harmful acts), safety concerns all other risk. Shortly put, safety concerns protection from accidents, security concerns protection from crime.

This means that whether a measure is a security measure or a safety measure, depends on the type of risk it is meant to mitigate. A reinforced window for example can be both:

  • When installed to prevent harm coming to the inhabitants coming from a gas tank accidentally exploding, it would be a safety measure.
  • When installed to protect the inhabitants from terrorist explosions, it would be a security measure.

A measure can also serve as a security and a safety measure at the same time. An example can be found in a door: the fire-delaying properties of the door might serve as a safety measure while the fact that it is protecting against unauthorised entry is a security measure.

Entry points for safety and security