The Accidental Safety Pro 134: SIF Prevention and High Energy Control Assessments
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Nov 26, 2025 
Dr. Elif Erkal, an expert in safety performance measurement at the Construction Safety Research Alliance, discusses innovative approaches to preventing serious injuries and fatalities. She introduces High Energy Control Assessments (HECA), emphasizing the importance of direct controls and present-tense safety measures over traditional metrics like TRIR. Elif critiques ineffective safety layers, advocates for data-driven approaches, and highlights community efforts to enhance safety practices. Tune in to learn how HECA can transform safety management and why collaboration between industry and academia is crucial.
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From Construction Site To Safety Research
- Elif Erkal grew up in construction and started as a contracts manager in an oil and gas refinery before moving into research.
- A PhD advisor, Matthew Hallowell, redirected her toward safety and SIF prevention, shaping her research focus.
TRIR Fails To Predict Serious Harm
- Total Recordable Injury Rate (TRIR) is statistically unstable and does not predict fatalities or future TRIR.
- Relying on TRIR hides context and fails to answer 'What is our safety performance today?'
Measure Safeguards Instead Of Injuries
- Redefine safety as the presence of safeguards rather than absence of injuries to measure protection directly.
- High Energy Control Assessments (HECA) measure presence of direct controls against life‑threatening hazards in real time.
