Foutveiligheid

Foutveiligheid, often translated as fail-safe, refers to a design principle that ensures a system fails in a safe state. This means that if a component or the entire system malfunctions, it will revert to a condition that prevents harm to people, equipment, or the environment. The primary goal of foutveiligheid is to minimize the consequences of failure.

This principle is applied across various fields, including engineering, software development, and industrial processes. In mechanical systems, for instance, a foutveilige brake system might automatically engage when power is lost. In software, error handling mechanisms are designed to prevent data corruption or system crashes when unexpected input or conditions arise.

Implementing foutveiligheid often involves redundancy, where critical components have backups, or simple, robust designs that are less prone to failure. Another approach is to ensure that a failure mode results in a predictable and manageable outcome, rather than a catastrophic one. The specific implementation of foutveiligheid depends heavily on the context and the potential risks involved. It is a crucial aspect of safety engineering and risk management, aiming to build resilience into systems.