Functional safety (the importance of functional safety as part of an occupational health and safety programme)

Article Type: Abstracts From: Human Resource Management International Digest, Volume 19, Issue 4

Cook N.The RoSPA Occupational Safety and Health Journal (UK), January 2011, Vol. 41 No. 1, Start page: 19, No. of pages: 4

Discusses the importance of functional safety as part of an occupational health and safety programme and notes how functional safety has become increasingly daunting for safety officers because of its increasing use of highly complex, electrical and electronic or computer-controlled systems. Defines what is meant by functional safety, particularly regarding the way that it forms part of the overall safety that depends on a system or equipment operating correctly in response to its inputs. Illustrates the potentially catastrophic consequences of functional safety failures by means of three practical examples, notably: the fire at the UK’s Buncefield high-capacity oil depot in December 2005; the fire at the Texas City oil refinery in March 2005; and the accidental release of highly toxic methyl isocyanate at India’s Bhopal pesticide chemical works in December 1984. Outlines a four-step process for ensuring functional safety, involving: determining the required safety function; determining the degree of risk reduction required by the safety-related system; specifying the safety requirements; and certification.ISSN: 1474-7952Reference: 40AE292

Keywords: Occupational health and safety, Manufacturing systems, Manufacturing, Organizations