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Functional Safety 2014
Title: Functional safety – Team of individuals of Individual team?
Abstract
The paper will look at the bigger picture where functional safety covers the various boundaries in
organizations, and responsibilities for functional safety. It will show that it is not a team of individuals
but an individual team.
Introduction
The title of this paper is like that of a football team. The best success comes from all players knowing
their role and boundaries, when to pass, and having the spatial awareness to react when they receive
the ball.
The football manager may have the capability, but if one or more in the team does not have the
required skill set and motivation then the ball may be lost. In Functional Safety it is also key to have
people who understand and can apply the right skills and practices throughout the organization, as not
having these may lead to incorrect or dangerous situations.
In a football game the worst result is losing a match, which is likely to have a cost and reputational
impact. In Functional safety the consequences may and are most likely to be more severe, including
harm to people.
In football a well meant intention may impact on the consequences. For example David Luiz’s headed
clearance that resulted in The Netherlands second goal. If he could repeat the situation do you think we
would take the same course of action? In this instance, although Brazil was beaten David Luiz had the
rest of the game to redeem himself.
In Functional safety a well meant intention may be followed by a stronger punishment or consequence
without the opportunity to amend the wrong.
The purpose of this paper is to show that “well meant intentions” may not deliver the intent of the IEC
Standards, or even Company Standards. However, the correct implementation of IEC 61508 / 11 at each
phase will.
The paper will highlight the positions and levels of competences required by the different parts within
the functional safety processes. Functional safety processes consist of the life-cycle from customer
identification of a requirement, through the supply chain in delivering this requirement for safety
functions, to the life-cycle management of functional safety when in service, and through later life
modifications or decommissioning.