When did IEC 61508 come out ?

IEC 61508 is an international standard that provides guidelines for managing and reducing risks associated with industrial processes. It was first published in 2018 and is widely recognized as the standard for functional safety in electrical, electronic, and programmable electronic systems.

The primary objective of IEC 61508 is to prevent accidents and mitigate their consequences by implementing safety measures throughout the entire life cycle of a process. This includes the design, development, installation, operation, and maintenance of process systems. The standard sets forth requirements for both hardware and software components, as well as the overall management of safety.

One of the key features of IEC 61508 is its emphasis on risk assessment and failure analysis. The standard provides guidelines for identifying potential hazards and risks associated with a process, and for developing strategies to mitigate or eliminate those risks. The standard also emphasizes the importance of failure modes and analysis, and provides requirements for conducting failure modes and analysis to identify potential causes and prevent accidents.

Another key feature of IEC 61508 is its focus on the entire lifecycle of a process, from design to operation and maintenance. The standard provides guidelines for ensuring that safety measures are integrated into the entire lifecycle of a process, from the initial design and development to the final stages of operation and maintenance.

The enhancements made in the latest version of IEC 61508 are significant and include the addition of new requirements and guidelines for the management of safety throughout the entire lifecycle of a process. These enhancements include the inclusion of requirements for the management of safety-related systems in the entire lifecycle, from design to operation and maintenance.

Conclusion

IEC 61508 is an important international standard for ensuring safety throughout the lifecycle of safety-related systems. Its technical aspects, including its focus on risk assessment, failure analysis, and mitigation techniques, make it a crucial standard for the development, deployment, and maintenance of functionally safe systems. The enhancements made in the latest version of IEC 61508 are significant and demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the safety of people, the environment, and assets.