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Usman Khalid

Welcome to this online course on Functional Safety for Safety Instrumented Systems. You will understand and learn about the topics which you will not find anywhere in the domain of Functional Safety.

The course introduces you to Safety Instrumented Systems SIS, Alarm Systems, Interlocks, Risks management, SIL calculation, their functions and how they are used in a system, in detail.

This course also includes in-depth study of:

Read more

Welcome to this online course on Functional Safety for Safety Instrumented Systems. You will understand and learn about the topics which you will not find anywhere in the domain of Functional Safety.

The course introduces you to Safety Instrumented Systems SIS, Alarm Systems, Interlocks, Risks management, SIL calculation, their functions and how they are used in a system, in detail.

This course also includes in-depth study of:

  • Layers of Protection Analysis

  • Reliability Block Diagrams

  • Failure Mode & Effects Analysis

  • Fault Tree Analysis

  • Markov Analysis

  • Event Tree Analysis

  • Hazard & Operability Analysis

The knowledge gained in this course will help you to understand all process Safety loops and systems.

Finally, included in the course are access to numerous downloadable resources, real industrial examples of process control and the keys to interpret them in high quality video lectures. You will be able to practice and become even more proficient with these bonus items that you will find throughout the course.

Check out the free preview videos and the curriculum of the course and I look forward to seeing you in the first section.

Hope to see you there

Who this course is for:

  • All personnel involved in calculation, design, selection, manufacturing, safety, quality and maintenance of systems and equipment in industrial processes

  • Plant Operators and engineers in the Process and Power Plant Industries as well as Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants

  • Process control engineers & technicians

  • Instrumentation engineers & technicians

  • Design engineers & technicians

  • Piping engineers & technicians

  • Maintenance engineers & technicians

  • Instructional designers and those involved in writing manuals and operational procedures

  • Security, Safety and Environment Officers (SSHE)

  • Anyone else with an interest in how Safety Systems should be designed, maintained and used.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Functional safety for safety instrumented system
  • Facilitation and preparation for tüv - fs certification exam
  • Facilitation and preparation for exida - fsp certification exam
  • Facilitation and preparation for isa 84 - sis expert certification
  • Iec 61508 / iec 61511
  • Sil calculation by using hazop , lopa, rbd etc.

Syllabus

Students will be introduced to Safety Instrumented System
Safety Instrumented System (SIS)
Safety Integrity Level (SIL)
Layers of Protection
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers HAZOP, LOPA, FMEA, and FTA, which are essential methodologies for process hazard analysis and risk assessment in process and power plant industries
Prepares learners for TÜV, Exida, and ISA 84 certifications, which are widely recognized credentials in the field of functional safety
Explores IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 standards, which are the foundational standards for functional safety in the process industry
Includes Markov Analysis, which is a powerful technique for modeling and analyzing the reliability and availability of safety-critical systems
Requires learners to understand hardware design, which may necessitate additional study for learners without an electrical engineering background
Teaches SIL calculation using HAZOP, LOPA, and RBD, which are crucial for determining the required safety integrity level of safety instrumented functions

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive functional safety and sis

According to learners, this course provides a comprehensive and in-depth coverage of Functional Safety for Safety Instrumented Systems. Students frequently highlight its value in preparing for industry certifications like TÜV, Exida, and ISA 84. The material covers essential topics such as HAZOP, LOPA, SIL calculations, FMEA, and FTA, often with practical, real-world industrial examples that help solidify understanding. While the content is dense and sometimes requires a prior technical background for optimal comprehension, reviewers generally find the course to be a valuable resource for both professionals and those seeking certification, offering detailed explanations and useful downloadable resources.
Instructor is knowledgeable and experienced.
"The instructor clearly possesses deep expertise in functional safety."
"His experience in the industry is evident and adds credibility to the content."
"The way the instructor explains complex ideas shows his mastery of the subject."
Concepts are explained in considerable detail.
"The explanations provided for critical concepts like PFDavg calculations were very detailed."
"I liked the step-by-step breakdown of the different analysis methods."
"The instructor goes into sufficient detail on the standards and their requirements."
"Every topic is dissected and explained clearly, which is great for learning."
Features useful real-world industrial examples.
"The inclusion of real industrial examples makes the complex concepts much easier to grasp and apply."
"I appreciated the bonus materials and case studies. They provided practical context."
"Seeing how these safety concepts are applied in actual process plants was invaluable."
"The practical examples provided throughout the course helped bridge the gap between theory and application."
Covers a wide range of functional safety topics.
"The course covered HAZOP, LOPA, FMEA, FTA, and SIL calculation in impressive detail. Very comprehensive."
"Learned a great deal about different safety analysis techniques I wasn't fully familiar with."
"The explanations of IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 standards are very thorough."
"This course provides a solid foundation across many areas of SIS and functional safety."
Aids significantly in preparing for certifications.
"This course is helping me prepare for the TÜV FS Engineer exam. The topics are well covered."
"I specifically took this course to help with the Exida certification, and it seems very aligned with the syllabus."
"Good preparation for the ISA 84 expert exam. Covers relevant standards and methods."
"I feel much more confident approaching the certification exam after completing these modules."
Best suited for learners with some background.
"As someone relatively new to the field, I found some sections quite challenging and assumed prior knowledge."
"Beneficial if you already have a basic understanding of process engineering or instrumentation."
"Not for absolute beginners; having some industry experience helps a lot."
"I had to do some external reading to fully keep up with certain technical discussions."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Functional Safety for Safety Instrumented Systems with these activities:
Review Probability and Statistics Fundamentals
Reinforce your understanding of probability and statistics, which are essential for grasping reliability analysis techniques like RBD, FTA, and Markov Analysis used in SIL calculation.
Show steps
  • Review basic probability concepts like conditional probability and Bayes' theorem.
  • Practice solving problems related to statistical distributions (e.g., normal, exponential).
  • Familiarize yourself with statistical measures like mean, variance, and standard deviation.
Study 'Practical Hazops, Trips and Alarms'
Enhance your understanding of HAZOP studies and alarm systems, key components of functional safety, by studying a practical guide.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of the book and allocate time for reading.
  • Focus on chapters related to HAZOP methodology and alarm system design.
  • Take notes on key concepts and examples provided in the book.
Read 'Safety Instrumented Systems Verification: Practical Guidance for Engineering and Management'
Deepen your understanding of SIS verification processes, a critical aspect of functional safety, by studying a dedicated resource.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of the book and allocate time for reading.
  • Focus on chapters related to verification planning, execution, and documentation.
  • Take notes on key concepts and examples provided in the book.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
SIL Calculation Exercises
Improve your proficiency in SIL calculation by working through a series of practice problems using different methods (e.g., LOPA, Fault Tree Analysis).
Show steps
  • Find or create a set of SIL calculation problems with varying complexity.
  • Solve each problem using different methods (LOPA, FTA, RBD) to compare results.
  • Verify your solutions against known answers or consult with peers.
Develop a Presentation on a Specific Functional Safety Standard
Solidify your understanding of functional safety standards (e.g., IEC 61508, IEC 61511) by creating a presentation that explains the standard's key requirements and application.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific functional safety standard (e.g., IEC 61508, IEC 61511).
  • Research the standard and identify its key requirements and principles.
  • Create a presentation outlining the standard's scope, objectives, and application.
  • Include real-world examples of how the standard is applied in industry.
Design a Safety Instrumented System for a Hypothetical Process
Apply your knowledge by designing a complete SIS for a hypothetical industrial process, including hazard analysis, SIL determination, and hardware/software specification.
Show steps
  • Select a hypothetical industrial process (e.g., chemical reactor, oil refinery unit).
  • Conduct a hazard analysis (HAZOP or FMEA) to identify potential hazards.
  • Determine the required Safety Integrity Level (SIL) for each safety function using LOPA.
  • Design the SIS architecture, including sensors, logic solver, and final elements.
  • Document your design, including assumptions, calculations, and component specifications.
Develop a Reliability Block Diagram (RBD) for a Safety Function
Practice creating a Reliability Block Diagram (RBD) for a specific safety function to visualize and analyze its reliability.
Show steps
  • Select a safety function from a process or system you are familiar with.
  • Identify the components involved in the safety function.
  • Determine the reliability of each component.
  • Create an RBD representing the safety function's architecture.
  • Calculate the overall reliability of the safety function based on the RBD.

Career center

Learners who complete Functional Safety for Safety Instrumented Systems will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Safety Engineer
A safety engineer focuses on identifying and mitigating hazards to protect people, property, and the environment, and this course directly supports that work. This role involves conducting risk assessments, developing safety procedures, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. The course's in-depth coverage of hazard analysis techniques including HAZOP, LOPA, FMEA, FTA, and ETA helps the safety engineer to perform their duties. This course is particularly relevant to professionals looking to apply their skills in fields that use Safety Instrumented Systems, since it provides detailed knowledge of those systems and associated safety protocols. The course will help you build a strong foundation in process safety loops and systems.
Process Safety Engineer
A process safety engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing safety systems in industrial processes; and this course is directly aligned with those objectives. This role entails analyzing process hazards, developing safety procedures, and ensuring that equipment and systems operate safely. The course's discussion of Safety Instrumented Systems and safety integrity levels is particularly relevant to this work. In addition, the study of techniques like LOPA, and fault tree analysis will prove invaluable. The course is ideal for those looking to apply their skills in fields involving safety systems, since it provides detailed knowledge of their proper operation and design.
Instrumentation Engineer
An instrumentation engineer designs, develops, and manages the equipment and systems used to measure and control industrial processes, for which an understanding of functional safety is paramount. This role requires a deep understanding of how different instruments interact within a larger process, and how they affect its overall safety. The course's discussion of Safety Instrumented Systems, including their failures, and risk management will be highly relevant to an instrumentation engineer. Furthermore, the course helps you delve into various types of analysis and evaluation, as well as documentation. This course will assist instrumentation engineers by giving them vital knowledge about functional safety.
Control Systems Engineer
A control systems engineer designs and maintains systems that regulate processes in various industries, and must be able to ensure safety. This role involves designing feedback loops, developing custom software, and identifying ways to make systems more efficient and safe. The course's detailed exploration of Safety Instrumented Systems, their states, and failure modes directly ties into this role. The course's coverage of analysis techniques like fault tree analysis will prove useful. A control systems engineer may wish to take this course to better understand how functional safety principles apply to their work, and how to design more reliable systems.
Reliability Engineer
A reliability engineer focuses on improving the dependability and performance of systems and equipment, for which an understanding of safety protocols is essential. This role involves analyzing data, identifying failure points, and developing strategies to prevent future problems, and the course can help you to do this. The course's coverage of reliability block diagrams, failure mode effects analysis, and Markov analysis will help the reliability engineer understand the nature of system failures. This course provides a good opportunity to learn more about functional safety standards and apply them to ensure a more reliable system.
Risk Analyst
A risk analyst identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks for organizations, which requires an understanding of safety systems. This role involves analyzing potential hazards, developing risk management strategies, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The course's detailed focus on risk management, hazard analysis, and techniques like HAZOP will directly assist the risk analyst in their role. The course is very relevant to professionals who wish to study risk management from a perspective of process safety, given its deep coverage of safety protocols and systems, and will build a foundation in this area.
Plant Engineer
A plant engineer is responsible for the overall operation and maintenance of a plant, including the maintenance and safety of its systems; and this course is directly designed for those purposes. This role requires a broad understanding of engineering principles, along with knowledge of safety protocols and risk management. This course provides a comprehensive overview of Safety Instrumented Systems and their associated safety management techniques. The analysis techniques taught, like LOPA and FMEA, will be useful for a plant engineer. This course is therefore essential for any plant engineer who wishes to better understand their facility's safety systems.
Process Technician
A process technician monitors and controls industrial processes, and must have a deep understanding of safety systems. This role involves operating equipment, performing routine maintenance, and ensuring that procedures are followed, and this course provides important background for that work. The course's coverage of Safety Instrumented Systems, their functions, and potential failures can assist technicians in their daily tasks. The information about different types of analysis will help a process technician identify and mitigate risks on the plant floor. Process technicians will find the course very helpful for its detailed discussion of safety procedures and standards.
Maintenance Engineer
A maintenance engineer oversees the upkeep of equipment and machinery, for which an understanding of safety is needed. This role involves planning maintenance schedules, diagnosing and repairing equipment malfunctions, and ensuring that all safety protocols are followed. The course's in-depth study of Safety Instrumented Systems can assist maintenance engineers in ensuring their systems function properly. The course's discussion of hardware design and failures will help maintenance engineers diagnose and address problems; it also provides important knowledge of safety systems. This course may be useful for maintenance engineers who want to apply a safety lens to their work.
Operations Manager
An operations manager oversees the daily operations of a facility; this includes the safe and efficient operation of all systems. This role requires coordinating different teams, ensuring adherence to safety procedures, and optimizing workflows. The course's coverage of safety management, documentation, and incident analysis can help an operations manager better oversee safety procedures. The course also provides practical knowledge of safety systems, and the various analysis techniques discussed can help in daily operations. This course may be useful to operations managers looking to improve their knowledge of safety protocols.
Quality Assurance Specialist
A quality assurance specialist is responsible for ensuring that products and processes meet quality and safety standards, which means they need to understand how safety systems work. This role involves developing and implementing quality control procedures and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. The course's focus on functional safety standards, and its detailed discussion of documentation and verification can help a quality assurance specialist do their job. This course may be useful for professionals looking to implement quality assurance within the context of functional safety.
Technical Trainer
A technical trainer develops and delivers training programs on technical topics, and may find a course on functional safety to be useful. This role may include training plant operators and technicians on how to maintain equipment, and following procedures. The course's comprehensive coverage of Safety Instrumented Systems, and the various techniques used in safety analysis will be helpful when preparing training materials. Technical trainers may wish to take this course to familiarize themselves with the material, as well as the safety protocols being taught.
Health and Safety Officer
A health and safety officer is responsible for ensuring a safe and healthy work environment, and requires broad knowledge of safety systems and risk management. This role involves developing safety policies, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The course's focus on functional safety, risk analysis, and hazard management will assist a health and safety officer. The course provides an understanding of both safety systems and risk management techniques. This course may be useful for health and safety officers who want to learn about process safety.
Project Manager
A project manager oversees the planning, execution, and completion of projects, and needs to understand how safety systems work. This role involves coordinating teams, managing budgets, and ensuring that projects are completed on time and within scope; also ensuring that the system is safe. The course's discussion of Safety Instrumented Systems and risk analysis, as well as documentation, can help project managers understand and manage safety aspects of their work. This course may be useful for project managers in industries where safety systems are paramount.
Technical Writer
A technical writer creates documentation, such as manuals, procedures, and training materials, and may wish to better understand how to document safety systems. The course's discussion of safety standards, and the various analysis techniques used will help a technical writer to generate accurate documentation. The course will also help them understand the function of various safety systems. This course may be useful for technical writers who work with safety systems and need a foundational knowledge of their operation.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Functional Safety for Safety Instrumented Systems.
Provides practical guidance on the verification of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS). It covers the entire verification lifecycle, from planning to execution and documentation. This book valuable resource for engineers and managers involved in the design, implementation, and maintenance of SIS, offering a deeper understanding of verification processes beyond the course material. It serves as a useful reference for ensuring the safety and reliability of SIS in industrial settings.
Provides a practical guide to Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) studies, safety trips, and alarm systems. It covers the principles of HAZOP, the design and implementation of safety trips, and the management of alarm systems. This book valuable resource for engineers and managers involved in process safety, offering a practical approach to identifying and mitigating hazards in industrial processes. It provides additional depth to the HAZOP and alarm system topics covered in the course.

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