Functional Safety | Information Training and Certification

What is Functional Safety?   How can I know more about it?

How do I get Functional Safety Training?  How do I get certified as a Functional Safety Professional?

WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL SAFETY?

Before jumping directly into the concept of Functional Safety, we will start with the concept of overall safety, which  is simply defined as “freedom from harm”. It is the expectation of every human being, to have a safe environment. In order to achieve this, different means are employed. So we need to have a safe home, a safe work environment, a safe means of transport and so on. Safety by itself is a vast subject and there are various sub disciplines within it.

 

Where is Functional Safety used?

It is used in a variety of sectors, not just in industrial manufacturing plants. It is used in aircraft, buildings, machinery, railways, automotive- just to name a few. However different functional safety standards apply in different industry and business sectors. Here, we will learn more about applying functional safety in the manufacturing and allied industries, such as power generation, oil & gas, etc. Abhisam has several functional safety training and certification courses.

 

Functional Safety in process plants

In a manufacturing plant or facility, safety can be achieved in different ways. For example, we may reduce the risk of overflow of a day tank, by having an overflow pipeline that will divert the excess flow to another tank, located at a lower level. In this case safety is achieved purely by the right piping and the use of gravity. This can be considered an example of achieving overfill protection by mechanical means and using Process Safety principles.

However, we have an alternate way of achieving overfilling protection for the tank. Say, if we use control system elements like a level sensor switch,  to detect the high level of liquid in the tank and then use it to solve logic to shut off an actuated valve on the inlet line, then this is an example of Functional Safety ( which depends on “Active Systems” and not passive systems).  This is why we have the Functional Safety definition that says that it is a part of the overall safety of any system, that achieves safety by correctly responding to inputs automatically. This overfill prevention arrangement is an example of a typical Safety Function.

Take a look  at the Functional Safety video below, which will make matters clearer.

Take our self paced Functional  Safety e-learning courses.

Each course is a self paced online training course with certification.

Featured Courses

Functional-Safety-SIL-Course-Level-1
Safety Instrumented Systems Training

When operators of this unit shown above use Personal Protection Equipment such as helmets, gloves or safety shoes, they are following principles of Occupational Safety.

In a nutshell, in a manufacturing plant, especially in the process industries such as Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Power generation, Nuclear and similar we achieve safety via Process Safety, Functional Safety and Occupational Safety.

In case the plant or facility has materials that are flammable or explosive, then we also use principles of Hazardous Area management, to ensure safety.

In case the facility uses electronic systems Automation systems such as DCS or PLC or SCADA (basic process control systems) or a SIS (safety related system), then we also need to maintain cyber security of these systems in order to ensure overall safety.

Read this to know more about what is a Safety function.

Abhisam has online courses, workshops & consulting services on all the above areas. On this page, we will be only discussing Functional Safety, Safety Intergity Level (SIL) and and Safety Instrumented Systems.

You can explore other pages of the Abhisam site to get more information on HAZOP, LOPA, Hazardous Area Classification, Industrial Cybersecurity, Personal Protective Equipment and similar related subjects.

Which Functional Safety Standards are important?

The IEC 61508 standard is considered as the mother standard in the world of Functional Safety. Other sector specific standards are based on this principal standard. IEC 61508 has seven parts, the first four are normative (means mandatory to claim compliance with the standard) and others are informative (just for information on how to meet the requirements of the standard). In the process industry IEC 61511 is the accepted international standard worldwide.

The US uses ISA S84, but this is now almost identical to IEC 61511.

In the automotive sector, ISO 26262 is the primarily accepted functional safety standard, whereas in the machinery it is IEC 62061. There is also an ISO functional safety standard for machinery, ISO 13849.

In the railway industry there are three functional safety standards, EN 50126, EN 50128 and EN 50129- the entire set is based on IEC 61508.

There are other sector specific functional safety standards, such as IEC 61513 for the nuclear industry. Where no sector specific standard exists, we can use IEC 61508.

However, it must be noted that even a sector specific standard does reference back to the main standard IEC 61508, so we should have a good idea of both.

 For example, in the process industry, the safety instrumented functions are designed as per IEC 61511 (or ISA S84), but the devices used in these functions, such as sensors, transmitters, safety logic solvers, relays, final control elements such as actuators, all have to conform to IEC 61508.

Many times, engineers are focused only on hardware failures. However, every functional safety standard, covers hardware failures, systematic failures (including software failures and management failures) and common cause failures for the safety function. If we are able to reduce all these three types of failures to a great extent, then we will have a good functionally safe system that is part of the overall safety of the plant.

Our safety requirements must address all these types of failures.

The Safety Life Cycle approach

One of the main concepts of these standards, is their focus on the Safety Lifecycle. This approach means that ensuring safety is not a one off target, but it must be done continuously and match the entire lifecycle of the plant or equipment.

This starts from the concept stage, then hazard and risk analysis, then deciding the safety requirements, then designing the safety functions (and also other means of risk reduction that contribute to overall safety), installation, validation, commissioning and finally decommissioning at the end of the plant or machinery life.

In between, if there are any modifications, then these are also part of the safety lifecycle and some steps need to be done again.

Functional Safety Management

Management of Functional Safety is a very important part of the Safety Life cycle. Since the life period of a typical plant or an equipment can sometimes easily exceed  even 50 years, we need good management to manage the Functional Safety over the entire life of the asset.

This is emphasized in all functional safety standards, be it IEC 61508 or ISO 26262 or any other. You may have the best safety functions & control systems designed and installed, but if you have poor management, then it may not really work over the life of the plant or equipment.

Where can I learn more about this?

Please see some useful functional safety training courses below.

Also read this guide on How Functional Safety cannot work well without  Industrial Cybersecurity.

Functional Safety Online Courses

We have the following Functional Safety Online Certification Courses (e-learning courses) related to Functional Safety and SIL. Every course, consists of several modules that have text, animations & simulations, graphics, assessments, examples, real life case studies that help you become a professional. You can complete them from the comfort of your home or office or anywhere else. You can take them online over the internet via any device such as your laptop/PC/tablet/ipad/smartphone or PC.  On passing the associated exam, you can get qualified as a professional, earn an electronic certificate with a unique ID number and an electronic badge that can be added to your Linked In Profile or other places online such as email signatures. This displays your qualifications and competencies to your colleagues, peers, bosses and potential employers and clients. Note that however, we do not have any automotive functional safety courses related to ISO 26262.

Functional Safety, SIL and SIS Cybersecurity (Level 1)

Functional-Safety-SIL-Course-Level-1

This is a first level course on Functional Safety, SIL and SIS Cybersecurity. It can be taken by any engineering or technical professional who wishes to know more about the subject and earn a certificate and electronic badge.

1. Introduction to Functional Safety & Safety Functions

2. Basic Concepts of Hazards, Risks

3. Safety Instrumented Systems

4. Failures & Reliability

5. Safety Integrity Level

6. Functional Safety Standards

7. Functional Safety Management

8. SIS Cybersecurity

You can view more details about this  Functional Safety course here

Functional Safety, SIL & SIS Cybersecurity (Level 2)

Functional Safety SIL SIS Cyber Security Level 2 Training

This is a higher level course on Functional Safety, SIL and SIS Cybersecurity. It can be taken by any engineering or technical professional who has taken the Level 1 course, or an equivalent course and wishes to master the subject, earn a Level 2 certificate and an electronic badge.

1. Hazards and Risk Analysis Techniques

2. SIL Determination (SIL Study)

3. Failures & Reliability

4. Safety Requirements Specifications

5. Safety System Design- Hardware & Software

6. SIL Verification

7. Functional Safety Management

8. SIS Cybersecurity

You can view more details about the Functional Safety, SIL and SIS Cyber security  (Level 2) course here

 

Functional Safety Mock Test (Free)

Functional Safety Mock Test

If you are planning to enroll into any course related to Functional Safety Professional course that includes topics such as Safety Integrity Level, Functional Safety Standards ISA S84 or IEC 61511, IEC 61508 and others, many of them require you to take an exam.

This is an excellent opportunity to practice before you take the exam.

Of course, if you take the Abhisam Safety Instrumented Systems course or the Functional Safety courses from us, then this is already available to you.

But even if you are taking a non Abhisam course, such as from TUV or Exida or any other provider, then you can take this exam for free to test your own knowledge.

Taking the Abhisam  Functional Safety Mock Test (free) will help you test your own preparation before you take the actual exam.

Access the Functional Safety Exam Questions  Mock Test now.

Safety Instrumented Systems

his course is highly detailed, starts from the basic concepts and covers everything related to SIS including :

a) Basic Concepts

b) Hazard and Risk Analysis

c)  Failures and Reliability

d) Safety Integrity Level (SIL)

e)  SIS Standards (including IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 / ISA S84)

f) SIS in practice

g) SIS Proof Testing and Maintenance.

Get the Safety Instrumented Systems online training course now.

Get this Functional Safety Guide free (limited time offer)!

SIS EBook

FREE! The Abhisam Quick Guide to Basic Functional Safety & SIL

     Quickly understand Functional Safety and SIL via this FREE  guide.

Offline Functional Safety Training Courses and Workshops

In addition to the above online courses, we along with our associates, also conduct Functional Safety Training Workshops from time to time in multiple cities around the world. These cover all topics related to Functional Safety including a typical functional safety standard such as IEC 61511.

They are offered as public courses but can also be offered as on site training at your location. Our trainers will travel to your location and deliver these programs.  They can be customized as per your needs.

Free White Papers

The following free white papers on Functional Safety, SIL and Safety Instrumented Systems are available on the Abhisam website and can be accessed from the links below.

1.An Introduction to Functional Safety and SIL

 2 Safety Instrumented Systems- Design Tips for engineers

3. Integrated SIS DCS or separate?

4. High Integrity Pressure Protection Systems (HIPPS)

Free Functional Safety and SIL Information

Here are some of the latest blog posts from the Abhisam Blog. The category Functional Safety and SIL has a lot of free functional safety information that you will find useful.

1. What is SIL? Is SIL 4 the best?

2. What is a Safety Requirement Specification?

3. What is the difference between Verification and Validation?

Functional Safety Posts from the Abhisam blog

IEC TR 61511-4: 2020

All these years IEC 61511 had only three parts. Now a fourth part IEC TR 61511-4 has been published which is a technical report on what the recent changes to the revised IEC 61511 make.

Read more here

What is the Safety Life Cycle?

The Safety Lifecycle is an important concept in the field of Functional Safety. Learn what it means and the various phases of the Safety Life Cycle according to the IEC 61511 standard.

 

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SIS EBook

FREE! The Abhisam Quick Guide to Basic Functional Safety & SIL

     Quickly understand Functional Safety and SIL via this FREE  guide.