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Functional safety explained

An ABB Automation Tech (Instrumentation + Automation) product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 17, 2008

A new guide explaining all you need to know about functional safety is now available from ABB.

"A methodology for achieving functional safety certification to IEC61508" provides a detailed explanation of the key areas that users need to consider when designing, implementing and operating a functional safety programme.

Written by ABB's safety expert Stuart Nunns, the guide is based on a real example involving a global company which undertook third-party accreditation for its functional safety management against the requirements of IEC61508 and IEC61511.

With 36 years' experience in automation and safety within the oil and gas, chemical, steel and electricity generation sectors, Nunns is a TUV Functional Safety Expert and member of the IET Functional Safety Professional Network Executive Group and the InstMC's Safety Panel.

Divided into four sections across 13 chapters, the guide focuses on the key stages in the creation and operation of a Functional Safety Management programme.

"Setting the strategy and defining the boundaries" covers the initial stages in creating a functional safety strategy, including putting the basics in place and defining the boundaries of the strategy to ensure that all necessary considerations are covered.

It is essential to ensure providers of safety-related products and services are competent to handle the design and implementation of safety systems.

The section "Specifying competency and benchmarking current practice" explains how to ensure providers are both competent and taking steps to maintain and update their knowledge of the latest safety-related legislation and codes of good practice.

An approach to selecting a third-party certification body is also presented.

The third section on "The safety lifecycle and developing the functional safety management system" covers the steps involved in developing the safety lifecycle model and Functional Safety Management system.

It sets out the main areas that need to be considered when designing a safety lifecycle model, including definitions of terminology, and explains what's involved and what users need to do to progress to the next stage.

Finally: "The certification process and supporting activities" discusses the process involved in certifying a functional safety management system and advises on what organisations need to do to keep their certification up to date, through key areas such as training, supporting activities for the storage of data and management of third parties and channel partners.

The guide provides an excellent point of reference for any organisation seeking to gain functional safety accredited certification.

"There are strong regulatory and social demands for businesses to demonstrate they are exercising their duty of care in providing a safe, reliable operation", says Stuart Nunns.

"Achieving accredited certification is a significant undertaking and requires a comprehensive work programme as well as the commitment of management at the highest level".

"However, for organisations that successfully achieve accreditation, it can be an invaluable opportunity to differentiate themselves and secure market advantage".

Having followed Nunns' advice, in line with the recommendations included in the guide, ABB in the UK is the first UK company to achieve functional safety management certification from TUV Rheinland, for its safety system implementation and delivery centre in St Neots.

In addition ABB UK has certified functional safety engineers through the TUV Rheinland scheme.