What is Functional Safety Assessment?

Functional Safety Assessment

Hazard and Risk Analysis (H&RA) techniques such as HazOp and LOPA are the means by which we carry out the early phases of the functional safety lifecycle – as defined in standards such as IEC 61511 “Functional safety - safety instrumented systems in the process industry sector”.

The Hazard and Risk Analysis must therefore be carried out as per the “management” requirements of the functional safety standards. One of those requirements is that all work done to deliver the lifecycle phases should be “assessed”.

Check that the work has been done correctly

The purpose of Functional Safety Assessment is to check that the work has been done as per the relevant procedures and plans and that suitably competent people have been selected. For work such as HazOp and LOPA, this would normally mean assessing the relevant terms of reference and the reports issued to record the outcome of the relevant meetings.

Assessment should be carried out with an appropriate level of independence

As a minimum, the verifier should not have played any active role in the meeting or development of the report or the verification of the work done. The assessor also needs to have an appropriate level of competence – assessing complex H&RA processes such as a HazOp or LOPA can be challenging, but provided the original task is done while recognising that assessment is to follow, it is possible for people with the correct expertise to provide very effective feedback and to identify areas which are not compliant.

Expertise and checklists

=Method has the relevant expertise to carry out assessment of H&RA tasks – using our templates and checklists to confirm that the work has been done correctly and as per relevant guidance and standards. If =Method has been responsible for the H&RA task and the subsequent verification, then the work and the verification will be carried out to facilitate efficient and effective assessment. If others are carrying out the tasks which are to be assessed by =Method, we recommend discussing with us how the work and the verification will be done so that subsequent assessment is facilitated.

Contact Method Process Safety

If you have any enquiries about our Process Safety Consultancy services please call us on 01462 713313 or contact us online.