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The results will then be compared with the safety integrity levels indicated by the current standard. A consistency check with the draft standard IEC 61511 will also be carried out.

The project will deliver a strategy and method aptly named ‘PI Bench’ to assist HSE Inspectors (and the process industry) in the assessment of IEC 61508 compliance.

ABB will assess the potential safety improvements that can be gained by upgrading safety-related systems to meet the requirements of the standard. The project will focus on major hazard plants in the on-shore process industries, in particular the chemicals sector.

The HSE have responsibility for enforcing safety legislation in the UK. They frequently inspect and assess installations where safety depends on the working of an electronic or programmable electronic system.

The HSE are looking for gains in efficiency in the assessment of such systems while ensuring that they maintain consistency and do not place an unreasonable burdens on their resources, nor create over-onerous demands on industry
ABB will undertake extensive industry consultation and pilot studies, through extensive workshops interviews and questionnaires. Thus enabling real comparisons to be made between the risk reduction achieved by existing systems (pre IEC 61508) and the IEC 61508 safety-related systems.

The main benefit will be the quick identification of differences between the existing systems and the requirements of the industry standard. HSE Inspectors will also be able to use the method to compare the risk reduction achieved.

For more information contact:
Mala Naidoo
Marketing and communications manager
Tel: + 44 (0) 1925 741048
email: mala.naidoo 'at' gb.abb.com

or

Stuart Nunns
Project Manager
Tel: 01642 372134
email: stuart.nuns 'at' gb.abb.com