I just read an interesting article in the September issue of InTech titled "Operators on alert".  It covers the controversial issue around how much safety credit (i.e. risk reduction) can be given to an operator's response to an alarm.   This article does a nice job of describing how the functional safety standard ...

I'm taking a stance, and publicly telling you my vision on the issue of separation and integration for safety and control.  When this happens, is still up to debate. I believe that one day it will only take one control system to automate your critical process.  That's right, there will be day where it is commonly ...

So you’re faced with the question of whether that trusty old transmitter you’ve been using as part of your safety shutdown system can meet the “prior use” requirements described in Section 11.5.3 of ANSI/ISA-84.00.01-2004 (IEC 61511-1 Mod).  Prior use, or Proven-in-use, is defined as a documented assessment showing ...

In attending last week’s 63rd Annual Texas A&M Instrumentation symposium, I was shocked to hear from a well respected safety expert that SFF (Safe failure fraction) was a failed metric.  No explanation, just that SFF was pretty much useless, followed by a cackle.  I really hate when people make profound statements like this, ...