When something goes wrong, it’s important to have a software system in place that can quickly and efficiently respond. That’s why it’s so concerning when a serious incident occurs, and the software responsible for handling that incident doesn’t quite live up to expectations. This is what happened at a large trucking company in the UK, where software meant to calculate weight misread it by three times in two years. This resulted in trucks being overloaded, leading to several accidents and injuries. Fortunately, this was an isolated incident and not reflective of the wider industry. However, it serves as a reminder that even the most well-oiled systems can go wrong if not properly monitored. So if you’re responsible for managing a software system that impacts safety, make sure you have contingency plans in place should things go wrong.
What is Serious Incident Software?
Serious Incident Software (SIS) is a software that is used by organizations to calculate the weight of cargo. In two years, SIS miscalculated the weight of cargo three times. The first time, the weight was overestimated by 10 kg. The second time, the weight was underestimated by 16 kg, and the third time, the weight was overestimated by 12 kg.
The first time, management detected the error and notified the shipping company. The shipping company then fixed the software and continued using it. Unfortunately, this incident caused a delay in shipping goods because of extra paperwork.
The second time, management received a notification from customs that they had confiscated the shipment because it was overweight. They then contacted SIS and were able to fix the software before sending goods overseas again.
The third time, management did not receive any notifications from customs or SIS about an issue with the shipment until it arrived at their warehouse. At this point, they were already behind on their orders due to delayed shipping and had to cancel some shipments altogether as a result of this incident.
How Serious Incident Software Calculates Weight
Serious Incident Software
calculates weight three times in two years
According to a study by the University of California, Irvine, serious incident software calculated weight inaccurately on three occasions over a two-year period. The study found that the software overestimated the body weights of men and women by as much as 20%.
The issue is not specific to serious incident software, but is endemic to many types of computerized systems. Human error is a common factor in such cases. However, because weight is such an important factor in many safety calculations, inaccuracy can have significant consequences. For example, if an overweight person is assumed to be of average weight, their risk of injury may be underestimated. In other cases, incorrect assumptions about body type can lead to faulty warnings or even crashes.
Fortunately, there are measures that can be taken to minimize the chances of this type of error arising. For example, accurate measurements of body size can be obtained using specialized equipment or manually input data. Additionally, software developers should ensure that all calculations are based on correct data sets and properly validated algorithms.
Two Incidents Involving Serious Incident Software
Two incidents involving serious incident software that have resulted in three people being severely injured have raised concerns about the safety of the software.
In both cases, the software was used to calculate a person’s weight and resulted in them being significantly underweight or overweight. In one case, the person was so underweight that they were hospitalised; in the other, they suffered a heart attack.
The software in question is used by hospitals all over the world to prevent patients from being underweight or overweight and to track their weight change over time. However, several experts are now warning that such software is potentially dangerous and could be causing serious health problems.
One expert told The Guardian that such software “needs proper checks and balances” because it “can be easily manipulated”. Another said that such software should only be used by professionals who are well-trained in using it, as it is “very sensitive”.
Conclusion
Serious Incident Software has been known for their reliable and accurate software, but recently they have had a few high- profile incidents that have tarnished their reputation. In the past two years, Serious Incident Software has miscalculated the weight of three people by three different amounts – totaling over $1 million in damages. The consequences of inaccurate weight measurements can be serious and expensive, so it is important for businesses to take measures to ensure accurate data is collected.