The historical development of limit state design in geotechnical engineering is reviewed. Total and partial factors of safety used for the design of land–based and offshore structures are compared. It is found that the factors of safety in different codes for the ultimate and serviceability limit states design of earthworks, earth retaining structures, and land-based and offshore foundations are very similar. Partial factors in the ultimate limit state design are linked to the variability of the loads and soil parameters, the design approximations, and construction tolerances. They influence the nominal probability of failure of the type of structure considered and the seriousness of failure, which differ for land-based and offshore structures. These probabilities are compared with human fatality risks of common experiences. The serviceability limit states are governed by structural and operational constraints and the intended service life of the land-based or offshore structure. The corresponding partial factors are generally taken as unity. Key words : codes, earth structures, foundations, human risks, limit states design, probability of failures, factors of safety.
Theoretical basis of ultimate limit state design