Functional safety plan

Hi Yasser

There are a few groups that may be able to help - we have an AI & Functional Safety working group as part of the Engineering Safety Policy Panel (Engineering Safety - IET Sector (theiet.org)), there's the Systems Safety Technical Network (IET EngX (theiet.org)) and the Independent Safety Assurance (ISA) Working Group (theiet.org), all of whom have done work in this area.  I'll make some enquiries and get back to you.

Andrew

Hi Yasser,

While Andrew's looking, I've been having a quick look around, given that I'm on holiday so I don't have access to my usual files (including 61508 itself!) I do agree, there doesn't seem to be much around. The following is quite helpful in giving general - if brief - advice on 61508 planning, but doesn't answer your question of a template, and is a few years old:

https://www.iesystems.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/FS-Management.pdf

However, I must just put in a caveat. Possibly one of the reasons you can't find a template is because Safety Plans do need to vary SO widely: from a simple SIL1 PLC controlling one function, to a plan for a complete installation including several SIL4 functions. They'll have the same sections (as described in the standard and in the link above) but with a HUGELY different level of detail. There are many, many, other factors which greatly affect how the plan is written: the novelty and complexity of technology, the maturity of the responsible organisation, the number of other organisations involved etc etc etc.

That all said, for the most complex safety plans a template isn't normally needed - because they are so complex that they will normally be written by safety experts anyway. (Which keeps us employed and off the streets...just to declare an interest!) But for e.g. a low SIL control function with a small number of functions it should/may(?) be possible and useful to produce a template plan, although it will need to come with a reasonable amount of guidance.

So I'll keep watching this thread with interest.

P.S. Maybe if one doesn't turn up in this thread it'll be a nice retirement project for me one day (few years off yet ) Not now though, too much of a conflict of interest with the day job. I wouldn't want to give someone a load of ISA comments on a plan only to to be told "but we based it on your template and guidance" 

Cheers,

Andy

Thanks Andrew, good to get some replies! yeah just after a basic template even generic one to be used for an overall company demonstration of management of FS. Ideally in a native format! Appreciate your time.

Regards,

Yasser

Thanks Andy for your reply. I fully agree with your comments. Was just looking for a basic template/generic one that could be adopted for demonstration in an organisation how FS is managed - and not necessary at project/scope level , if that makes sense! If you come across anything do let me know and the wider community. One of my colleagues also sent the same link, it provides very high level guidance. Have also consulted IEC 61508 standard which again gives high level guidance..

Regards,

Yasser

Hi Yasser

A couple of volunteers have mentioned the same useful resource, namely: https://www.61508.org/downloads/index.php  and in particular the CASS TOES FOR FUNCTIONAL SAFETY MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT.  If the plan addresses the assessment items, it should pass an audit.

They also point out the likes of exida, esc, and iec.  As you know, each plan will be different and very specific to the organisation and the tasks being conducted. For example, how you do your competence assessment will be different for every organisation, the lifecycle will be specific to a project possibly, responsibilities will vary by contractual status …

Andrew

Hi Andrew. Thanks for that. Yes absolutely the plan will be different, I was after a starting template to be used and the one you sent from Ben looks a good one to use. Exida does have a lot of usefull resources but I couldnt see a plan template as such to use. Ben also gave me some usefull pointers also, so thanks for putting me in contact

Regards

Yasser