Universal safety standard is infeasible-for now

Some academicians have argued that we should not build systems until we find the absolute answers that will free us from accidents and losses. However, it is unlikely that society at large will allow such stagnation in the growth of safety-critical systems. The perceived benefits of continued development seem to outweigh the perceived risks. Given that, for now, we have to be content with multiple, domain-specific standards, it is important that we share our experiences in using them. In response to safety concerns, standards have been developed for several application domains. Ideally, one standard, similar to the ISO 9000 series, that addresses all situations could consolidate research, tools, and certification approaches. The paper discusses two major reasons why the acceptance of such a universal standard is infeasible.