Conference to address safety issues

A British Automation and Robotics Association product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 11, 2005

The British Automation and Robotics Association is organising a unique Machine Safety and Functional Safety Conference at the University of Warwick on 11th May 2005.

BARA, the British Automation and Robotics Association, is organising a unique Machine Safety and Functional Safety Conference to be held in the Rootes Social Building, University of Warwick, Coventry, from 1000 to 1530 BST on 11th May 2005.

It is aimed at specifiers and designers of machinery and safety related electrical control systems (SRECS), as well as managers and engineers responsible for machinery safety within their work environment.

Sponsors include the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) - which has recently become a member of BARA - plus the IMechE, IEE, IIE, Industrialsafetytalk, Control Engineering Europe, Health and Safety Matters, Elite Control Systems, Pilz Automation Technology, Procter Machine Guarding and SIRA.

Dr Richard Piggin, Chairman of BARA's Safety SIG (Special Interest Group), comments: "BARA's first three machine safety seminars were extremely successful, but this latest event covers functional safety in far greater depth".

"Functional safety is core to IEC/EN61508 and IEC62061, yet the concept is alien to many machine builders and system integrators".

"Furthermore, EN954-1 is still current and its planned replacement (ISO13849-1) has been delayed, partly due to controversy over its complexity compared with EN954-1".

"This conference will address various issues surrounding machine safety and functional safety in the context of the current and forthcoming standards, with the aim of dispelling any confusion once and for all".

Three speakers from the HSE will discuss the current and future standards relating to machine safety and functional safety, as well as the implications of using industrial communications systems for safety relevant data.

The subject of competency management in the context of functional safety will be discussed by a consultant from Pilz Automation Technology, and the importance of functional safety certification for an end user will be covered by SIRA.

Speakers from Elite Control Systems and Land Rover will present their experiences of implementing functional safety from the perspective of a system integrator and an end user, respectively.

As well as question-and-answer sessions during the conference, there will be opportunities for delegates to meet the speakers during the refreshment breaks and at the table-top exhibition that will be situated adjacent to the lecture theatre.

In addition, many of the sponsoring organisations and members of BARA will be exhibiting products, systems and services relevant to machine safety and functional safety.

Dr Richard Piggin says: "The last BARA seminar was heavily oversubscribed, so we are expecting a great deal of interest in this event".

"We are extremely fortunate to have such a strong line-up of speakers, and the level of involvement by the HSE is a clear demonstration of the importance the HSE is placing on functional safety for machinery".

The cost of the conference is just GBP 99 per delegate or GBP 89 for members of BARA, IEE, IMechE or IIE (if paid in advance, otherwise GBP 150), which includes a buffet lunch, light refreshments and conference material on a CD-ROM; prices are plus VAT.

Places are strictly limited, so register quickly if you are interested in attending.

Registration can be completed online via the events section of the BARA website.