Abstract: A method and system for improving system safety are disclosed. A system safety plan is created, part of which involves making a preliminary hazard assessment of hazards that potentially arise in the product evolution project. As part of the system safety plan, a hazard control plan is created to minimize the potential hazards identified. To monitor the system safety plan or choose between alternative control plans, a metric program measurement standard is created. As the system safety plan is implemented, hazard events that occur are investigated. The hazard events are tracked so that the system safety plan suitably is evaluated according to the metric program measurement standard previously created. A review process is initiated when the system safety plan fails to meet objectives or the product evolution project yields safety concerns not considered in the system safety plan.