Dr Ben Seligmann

Research Fellow

MISHC

b.seligmann@uq.edu.au

Researcher biography

Ben Seligmann specialises in applying risk management and hazard identification methods in the process industries, with applications into systems theory and complexity.

Dr Ben Seligmann is a risk specialist, systems thinker and teacher. Over the last 10 years, he has worked in academia, engineering consulting, HSE and risk and compliance, across mining, infrastructure, healthcare and the education and industries. He focuses on risk management research at the Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre (MISCH). His particular research interests are new frontiers of risk management and risk assessment in practice, modelling accident scenarios and engaging with socio-technical industrial systems' complexity.

Research Interests

Risk Assessment

Studying how risk assessment is actually performed in industry to learn how best to support those efforts. This included deconstructing past, current, and emerging hazard identification methods to understand 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 networks. The topology of these network representations is 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.

Qualifications

PhD (Chemical Engineering), University of Queensland, 2011
Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical), University of Queensland, 2006

Publications

Book Chapter (1)

Journal Articles (8)

Conference Papers (17)

Thesis (1)

Research Reports (3)

Book Chapter

Goranson, Ted, Cardier, Beth, Hancock, Mathew, Evangelou-Oost, Naso, Seligmann, Benjamin J., Garcia, Matthew and Smith, Glen (2025). User affordances to engineer open-world enterprise dynamics. Interdependent Human-Machine Teams. (pp. 1-31) edited by William Lawless, Ranjeev Mittu, Donald Sofge and Hesham Fouad. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-443-29246-0.00006-7

Journal Articles

Lin, Yifei, Seligmann, Benjamin J., Micklethwaite, Steven and Lange, David (2024). Causal network topology analysis: Characterizing causal context for risk management. Risk Analysis, 44 (11), 2579-2615. doi: 10.1111/risa.14337

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

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

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

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

Conference Papers

Mohan, A. T., Seligmann, B., Van Coile, R. and Lange, D. (2024). Sense-making of Fire Safety Deemed-to-Satisfy Solutions in the Modern Built Environment. 4th European Symposium on Fire Safety Science, Barcelona, Spain, 9-11 October 2024. Bristol, United Kingdom: Institute of Physics. doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/2885/1/012099

Seligmann, Benjamin J., Lin, Yifei, Micklethwaite, Steven and Lange, David (2024). Does knowledge of causal context help optimize risk treatment?. Hazards Australasia, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 29-30 September 2024.

Seligmann, B. J., Lin, Y. and Hassall, M. (2024). Comparison of risk register quality and consistency using causal network topology analysis. AusIMM International Mine Safe, Perth, WA Australia, 15-17 April 2024.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thesis

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

Research Reports

Seligmann, Ben (2022). Incitec pivot charge pumps case study – CaNeTA. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: UQ.

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.

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.