Rockwell publishes first Process Safebook 03 June 2013

'Process Safebook 1: Functional Safety in the Process Industry' is a new free publication from Rockwell Automation that explains the principles and standards around achieving safety in process applications.

The book provides a valuable overview of functional safety as well as guidance around the application of IEC61511, the process industry-specific implementation of the IEC61508 framework.

Rockwell's new book makes the point that IEC61508 continues to be the basis of modern safety standards and legal frameworks – and hence the importance of managers, engineers and technicians involved at any stage of a safety-related system's life understand it.

The book covers safety management of electrical, electronic and programmable electronic systems, all the way from concept to decommissioning, and brings formal safety engineering approaches to their development, installation, maintenance etc.

At its core is the principle that, in safety planning, safety goals based on risk assessment should be set, and then that the rigour of management and processes should be appropriate to meeting them.

As Rockwell's publication explains, this makes the IEC61511 standard goal-based rather than prescriptive, and means that compliance does not exonerate users of any blame in the event of a safety issue.

"The book was originally aimed at sales engineers and designers within Rockwell Automation, to help them understand some of the basic concepts that customers typically ask for," comments Keith Kirkcaldy, author of Process Safebook 1.

For him, it's about guiding "the provision of cost-effective solutions".

The publication evolved from an internal document to one that has now spread throughout the organisation globally, he says.

"It has been written in such a way that it clarifies the terminology and jargon, and uses simple language illustrated with examples taken from our own experience," states Kirkcaldy.

"It shows that compliance with the standards is not just about calculation and analysis, and meeting quantitative targets, but also stresses and shows the importance of competent management and implementation," he continues.

"It shows compliance is not a paperwork exercise with the objective of producing documents but, instead, it is about making sure that adequate information is available."

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Rockwell Automation UK Ltd

This material is protected by MA Business copyright
See Terms and Conditions.
One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.
For multiple copies contact the sales team.