Safety assurance is a condition that must be fulfilled in any industries especially in critical infrastructure industries that have big risks and impacts against human life across its operations, since it should put the protection of human life as the paramount on top of all concerns. Therefore, every company should have a safety culture that cristalized in safety system in order to ensure the safety assurance of all aspects within the organization, and to ensure there is no safety incidents as long as possible.

Occupational, operational, and functional safety are as the “license to operate” in the critical infrastructure industry. Those three safety aspects are of great importance referring to the ensuring and maintaining high safety standards as a prerequisite for carrying out operations. Some critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, transport, water, and telecommunications play a critical role in providing human basic needs as the critical resources to the society and the economy.

The importance of safety assurance in the critical infrastructure industry:

• Protection of Human Life: Safety assurance in critical infrastructure is about protecting the lives and health of workers, contractors and the public who interact with those facilities or services. Any incidents or failures in critical infrastructure can have severe consequences, including injury, death and long-term health impacts.
• Asset Preservation: Critical infrastructure assets are difficult to replace and therefore safety measures help prevent damage to physical assets, such as pipelines, power plants, and communications networks, which are critical to maintaining continuity of service.
• Business Continuity: Safety incidents can disrupt operations causing outages, delays, or even complete shutdowns. Maintaining safety ensures operational continuity, reducing downtime and the associated economic impact.
• Compliance and Regulatory Requirements: Many critical infrastructure sectors are highly regulated, with strict safety and security standards mandated by government agencies. Compliance with these regulations is essential to obtaining permits, licenses, and approvals to operate.
• Risk Management: Safety in critical infrastructure involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with various operational hazards, such as mechanical failure, natural disasters, cyber threats, and human error. Effective risk management reduces the likelihood and severity of incidents.

In conclusion, safety assurance serves as the initial foundation aimed at maintaining the “license to operate” in the critical infrastructure industry. Safety assurance has the main goal to protect the life, assets, and the environment while supporting regulatory compliance, operational resilience, and stakeholder trust. Prioritizing safety not only help to prevent and mitigate risk but also improves operational efficiency, sustainability, and long-term success in critical infrastructure operations.