A Systems-Based Safety Innovation Framework for Occupational Risk Management in Electrical Power Systems

Abstract

The rapid digitalization and decarbonization of electrical power systems have brought increased operational complexity and new occupational risk dynamics. This transition renders traditional compliance-based safety models inadequate for managing the emerging complexities of cyber–physical and socio-technical systems. This paper develops a conceptual socio-technical safety architecture for occupational risk management in electrical power systems, grounded in the concepts of systems innovation and socio-technical modeling. A structured narrative review of international standards, accident investigations, and emerging technologies is conducted to reinterpret hazards as interacting subsystems within a dynamic, adaptive framework. The proposed framework synthesizes technical safety controls, human reliability factors, and artificial intelligence-driven predictive maintenance within a single architecture, supported by dynamic feedback loops. The model addresses nonlinear risk propagation across smart grid applications, hydrogen systems, and battery energy storage systems. By transitioning from a reactive to a proactive, adaptive approach to safety governance, the architecture enhances the resilience of electrical power systems, reduces the potential for cascading failures, and aligns occupational safety with infrastructure modernization strategies for electrical power systems. The framework provides a conceptual basis for integrating technology innovation with occupational risk management across complex energy infrastructures undergoing digital transformation.