I specialise in applying risk management and hazard identification methods in the process industries, with applications into systems theory and complexity.
I am a risk specialist, systems thinker and teacher. Over the last 10 years, I have worked in academia, engineering consulting, HSE and risk and compliance, across mining, infrastructure, healthcare and the education industries. I currently focus on risk management research at the Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre (MISCH). My research interests are new frontiers of risk management, risk assessment in practice, modelling of accident scenarios and trying to engage with the complexity of socio-technical industrial systems.
Research Interests
> Risk Assessment
Studying how risk assessment is actually performed in industry, to learn how best to support those efforts. This includes deconstructing past, current and emerging hazard identification methods to understanding which methods can best be fitted to specific work contexts. The limitations of risk management are also studied, with a special focus on understanding the quality of risk assessments performed.
> Modelling Accident Scenarios
Accident scenarios, whether emerging from accident investigations or proactively generated from hazard identification methods, are modelled as causal network. The topology of these network representation are interrogated to ask and answer system-level questions for supporting risk treatment decision making.
> Engaging with the complexity of socio-technical industrial systems
As modern industrial systems become more highly connected to each other, society and the internet, predicting their behaviour and controlling their outcomes becomes difficult. It is said that the complexity of these systems is the cause of this difficulty. This research stream is about defining, understanding and engaging with the complexity of such systems, to inform how they may be influenced to be successful.
Journal Article: Causal Network Topology Analysis (CaNeTA) as a tool for risk assessment in fire safety engineering
Lin, Yifei, Lange, David and Seligmann, Benjamin J. (2023). Causal Network Topology Analysis (CaNeTA) as a tool for risk assessment in fire safety engineering. Fire Safety Journal, 140 103880, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2023.103880
Conference Publication: Complex Orebodies Analysis: A Multidisciplinary Application to the Izok Lake Corridor Project in the Canadian Arctic
Micklethwaite, S., Verster, I., Seligmann, B.J., Antonio, C., Hilden, M., Hernandez-Santin, L., Ghoreishi-Madiseh, S.A., Kuyuk, A., Kalantari, H.B., Sasmito, A.P., Cote, C., Ziemski, M., Car, M., Lamb, A., Erskine, P., Runge, K. and Valenta, R.K. (2023). Complex Orebodies Analysis: A Multidisciplinary Application to the Izok Lake Corridor Project in the Canadian Arctic. 26th World Mining Congress, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26-29 June 2023. Brisbane, QLD Australia: 26th World Mining Congress.
Conference Publication: Integration will take you forward: causal networks as a new approach to address inherent problems with risk management practice in mining organisations
Seligmann, B.J., Micklethwaite, S., Forbes, G., Lin, Y., Trendle, J., Bowdidge-Calvert, C., Verster, I., Antonio, C., Ziemski, M. and Hernandez-Santin, L. (2023). Integration will take you forward: causal networks as a new approach to address inherent problems with risk management practice in mining organisations. 26th World Mining Congress, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26-29 June 2023. Brisbane, QLD Australia: 26th World Mining Congress.
Modelling impacts of natural hazards on interconnected infrastructure networks
(2023–2025) Natural Hazards Research Australia
Capital Project Risk Differentiation
(2023) Mount Isa Mines Limited
A Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project (304MMGIZOK)
(2021) MMG Australia Limited
Development of a causal network topology analysis tool for mining and fire safety engineering
Doctor Philosophy
Complexity in Fire Safety Engineering
Doctor Philosophy
Causal Network Topology Analysis (CaNeTA) as a tool for risk assessment in fire safety engineering
Lin, Yifei, Lange, David and Seligmann, Benjamin J. (2023). Causal Network Topology Analysis (CaNeTA) as a tool for risk assessment in fire safety engineering. Fire Safety Journal, 140 103880, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2023.103880
The influence of moisture content on dust generation in falling curtains of sugarcane bagasse fiber
Sheehan, M., Antunes, E., Seligmann, B. and Weight, C. (2022). The influence of moisture content on dust generation in falling curtains of sugarcane bagasse fiber. Powder Technology, 397 117001, 117001. doi: 10.1016/j.powtec.2021.11.045
Seligmann, Benjamin J., Zhao, Jiayi, Marmara, Sophia G., Corbett, Tayla C., Small, Michael, Hassall, Maureen and Boadle, Jesse T. (2019). Comparing capability of scenario hazard identification methods by the PIC (Plant-People-Procedure Interaction Contribution) network metric. Safety Science, 112, 116-129. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2018.10.019
Cameron, Ian, Mannan, Sam, Nemeth, Erzsébet, Park, Sunhwa, Pasman, Hans, Rogers, William and Seligmann, Benjamin (2017). Process hazard analysis, hazard identification and scenario definition: are the conventional tools sufficient, or should and can we do much better?. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 110, 53-70. doi: 10.1016/j.psep.2017.01.025
Liu, Juming, Han, Lu, Ma, Huiyan, Tian, Hao, Yang, Jucai, Zhang, Qiancheng, Seligmann, Benjamin J., Wang, Shaobin and Liu, Jian (2016). Template-free synthesis of carbon doped TiO2 mesoporous microplates for enhanced visible light photodegradation. Science Bulletin, 61 (19), 1543-1550. doi: 10.1007/s11434-016-1162-3
New visualizations in the development of function and failure in process design and operations
Cameron, Ian T., Nemeth, Erzsebet and Seligmann, Benjamin J. (2016). New visualizations in the development of function and failure in process design and operations. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 48, 661-666. doi: 10.3303/CET1648111
A blended hazard identification methodology to support process diagnosis
Seligmann, Benjamin J., Nemeth, Erzsébet, Hangos, Katalin M. and Cameron, Ian T. (2012). A blended hazard identification methodology to support process diagnosis. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 25 (4), 746-759. doi: 10.1016/j.jlp.2012.04.012
Micklethwaite, S., Verster, I., Seligmann, B.J., Antonio, C., Hilden, M., Hernandez-Santin, L., Ghoreishi-Madiseh, S.A., Kuyuk, A., Kalantari, H.B., Sasmito, A.P., Cote, C., Ziemski, M., Car, M., Lamb, A., Erskine, P., Runge, K. and Valenta, R.K. (2023). Complex Orebodies Analysis: A Multidisciplinary Application to the Izok Lake Corridor Project in the Canadian Arctic. 26th World Mining Congress, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26-29 June 2023. Brisbane, QLD Australia: 26th World Mining Congress.
Seligmann, B.J., Micklethwaite, S., Forbes, G., Lin, Y., Trendle, J., Bowdidge-Calvert, C., Verster, I., Antonio, C., Ziemski, M. and Hernandez-Santin, L. (2023). Integration will take you forward: causal networks as a new approach to address inherent problems with risk management practice in mining organisations. 26th World Mining Congress, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26-29 June 2023. Brisbane, QLD Australia: 26th World Mining Congress.
Seligmann, Benjamin (2022). Seeing the forest for the trees: enhancing risk treatment decision-making by studying the structure of causal networks . Chemeca 2021, Brisbane, Australia, 27-28 September 2021.
Why being 95% error-free is safer than 99.9%
Seligmann, Ben and Johnston, Susan (2022). Why being 95% error-free is safer than 99.9%. Queensland Minerals Industry Safety and , Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 22-25 August 2022.
Novel ‘Complex Orebodies Approach’ to assess deposit feasibility in minerals processing design
Verster, I., Antonio, C., Hilden, M., Ziemski, M., Seligmann, B., Micklethwaite, S., Ghoreishi-Madiseh, S.A., Lamb, A., Qian, B., Car, M. and Valenta, R. (2022). Novel ‘Complex Orebodies Approach’ to assess deposit feasibility in minerals processing design. Integration, Optimisation and Design of Mineral Processing Circuits '22, Online, 13-14 June 2022.
Predicting human-system interaction risks associated with autonomous systems in mining
Hassall, Maureen, Seligmann, Ben, Lynas, Danellie, Haight, Joel and Burgess-Limerick, Robin (2022). Predicting human-system interaction risks associated with autonomous systems in mining. AHFE International Conference, New York, NY, United States, 24-28 July 2022. New York, NY, United States: AHFE International. doi: 10.54941/ahfe1002313
A refreshing take: analysing accident scenarios through causal network topology metrics
Seligmann, Benjamin J., Pasman, Hans J., Domanti, Sarah J., Boadle, Jesse T., Staples, Adam C., Bels, Ashley, Small, Michael and Boegheim, Mistrel Fetzer (2018). A refreshing take: analysing accident scenarios through causal network topology metrics. Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Centre 21st International Symposium, College Station, TX United States, 23 - 25 October 2018. College Station, TX United States: Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center.
Visualizing process design, operation and failure impacts through state space representations
Cameron, Ian T., Seligmann, Benjamin J. and Németh, Erzsébet (2015). Visualizing process design, operation and failure impacts through state space representations. Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Centre International Symposium, College Station, TX, United States, 27-29 October 2015.
Generating cause-implication graphs for process systems via blended hazard identification methods
Nemeth, Erzsebet, Seligmann, Benjamin J., Hockings, Kim, Oakley, Jim, O'Brien, Con, Hangos, Katalin M. and Cameron, Ian T. (2011). Generating cause-implication graphs for process systems via blended hazard identification methods. 21st European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering (ESCAPE-21), Chalkidiki, Greece, 29 May - 1 June 2011. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-53711-9.50214-5
A structured, blended hazard identification framework for advanced process diagnosis
Seligmann, B., Nemeth, E., Hockings, K., McDonald, I., Lee, J., O'Brien, C., Hangos, K. M. and Cameron, I. T. (2010). A structured, blended hazard identification framework for advanced process diagnosis. 13th International Symposium on Loss Prevention and Safety Promotion in the Process Industries, Brugge, Belgium, 6-9 June 2010. Brugge, Belgium: EFCE European Federation of Chemical Engineering.
An integrated functional systems approach to improving diagnosis in complex process systems
Cameron, Ian, Nemeth, Erzsebet, Seligmann, Benjamin, Hassall, Maureen, Sanderson, Penny, Hangos, K. M., Hockings, K. and O'Brien, C. (2010). An integrated functional systems approach to improving diagnosis in complex process systems. 40th Annual Australasian Chemical and Process Engineering Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 26–29 September 2010.
A blended hazard identification approach to support intelligent diagnosis in process systems
Seligmann, B., Nemeth, E., Hockings, K., O'Brien, C. and Cameron, I. T. (2009). A blended hazard identification approach to support intelligent diagnosis in process systems. CHEMECA 2009, Perth, 27-30 September. Perth: Engineers Australia.
Cameron, I. T., Hangos, K. M., Lakner, R., Nemeth, E. and Seligmann, B. (2008). A functional systems approach to the development of improved hazard identification for advanced diagnostic systems. 18th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering, Lyon, France, 1-4 June, 2008.
The P3 formalism: A basis for improved diagnosis in complex systems
Cameron, I. T., Hangos, K. M., Lakner, R., Nemeth, E. and Seligmann, B. (2007). The P3 formalism: A basis for improved diagnosis in complex systems. Chemeca 2007: Academia and Industry Strengthening the Profession, Melbourne, Vic, Australia, 23-26 September, 2007. Barton, ACT, Australia: Engineers Australia.
Incitec pivot charge pumps case study – CaNeTA
Seligmann, Ben (2022). Incitec pivot charge pumps case study – CaNeTA. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: UQ.
Human-system integration risk assessment for automation in mining
Hassall, Maureen, Seligmann, Ben, Burgess-Limerick, Robin, Lynas, Danellie and Haight, Joel (2022). Human-system integration risk assessment for automation in mining. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
A Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project: Final Report 5
Seligmann, Benjamin and Micklethwaite, Steven (2021). A Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project: Final Report 5. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Seligmann, Benjamin (2006). Build-up of polyelectrolyte multilayers of heparin and chitosan for controlled release of basic fibroblast growth factor. Honours Thesis, School of Engineering, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/347760
Modelling impacts of natural hazards on interconnected infrastructure networks
(2023–2025) Natural Hazards Research Australia
Capital Project Risk Differentiation
(2023) Mount Isa Mines Limited
A Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project (304MMGIZOK)
(2021) MMG Australia Limited
Human aspects of automation in mining (101BMAHF)
(2020–2022) BM Alliance Coal Operations Pty Limited
Development of a causal network topology analysis tool for mining and fire safety engineering
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Complexity in Fire Safety Engineering
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors: