Course information
Functional Safety (IEC 61511) training is available in the following formats
Virtual Course
Intermediate
Attendance
2 days
14 hours
Learning objectives
- Explain the fundamentals of functional safety and its importance in managing industrial risk within the process sector
- Understand the scope, structure, and intent of IEC 61511 and its relationship to the umbrella standard IEC 61508
- Apply the IEC 61511 functional safety lifecycle from concept and hazard analysis, through SIL determination and safety requirements specification, to design, operation, modification, and decommissioning
- Identify Safety Instrumented Functions (SIFs) and determine required Safety Integrity Levels (SIL) using risk‑based techniques such as LOPA
- Design, implement, and maintain Safety Instrumented Systems (hardware and software) to meet specified SIL targets
- Conduct verification, validation, proof‑testing, and functional safety assessment activities to demonstrate compliance
- Integrate human, organisational, and management factors into functional safety programmes
- Define roles, responsibilities, competence, and independence requirements for functional safety management
- Manage documentation, change control, and ongoing SIL assurance throughout the SIS lifecycle
- Recognise common pitfalls and good practices in applying IEC 61511 within real‑world process facilities
Key contents
- Introduction to functional safety: terminology, objectives, and benefits
- IEC 61511 overview: scope, structure, and its link to IEC 61508
- The IEC 61511 safety lifecycle and required deliverables
- Hazard identification and risk assessment methods for SIL determination (e.g. LOPA, Fault Tree Analysis)
- SIL assignment: risk reduction targets and integrity requirements
- Design and engineering of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), including hardware, software, and field devices
- Verification, validation, proof testing, and maintenance strategies
- Functional safety management: organisation, competence, roles, and independence
- Documentation, change management, and audit trails across the lifecycle
- Typical pitfalls, failure modes, and industry good practice
- Overview of tools and software used in IEC 61511 assessments
- Case studies from oil, gas, and wider process industries
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of instrumentation, control systems, or process safety concepts is recommended. No prior experience with IEC 61511 or SIL assessments is required.
