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IEC 61508 Hardware Safety Assessment Checklist

A comprehensive checklist for assessing hardware safety in accordance with IEC 61508, focusing on the design, implementation, and maintenance of safety-critical hardware components in the energy and utilities sector.

IEC 61508 Hardware Safety Assessment Checklist

by: audit-now
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About This Checklist

The IEC 61508 Hardware Safety Assessment Checklist is an indispensable tool for evaluating the safety and reliability of hardware components in safety-critical systems within the energy and utilities sector. This comprehensive checklist addresses the specific requirements outlined in IEC 61508 for hardware design, implementation, and maintenance. By thoroughly assessing hardware architecture, component selection, failure modes, and diagnostic coverage, this checklist helps organizations identify potential vulnerabilities, ensure hardware integrity, and maintain the safety of electrical, electronic, and programmable electronic safety-related systems. Implementing this checklist not only enhances hardware reliability but also demonstrates a commitment to regulatory compliance and operational excellence in high-risk environments.

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Industry

Energy and Utilities

Standard

IEC 61508 - Functional Safety of Electrical/Electronic Systems

Workspaces

Engineering laboratories
Testing Facilities
Manufacturing Facilities

Occupations

Hardware Engineer
Safety Engineer
Quality Assurance Specialist
Reliability Engineer
Systems Integrator
1
Is the safety integrity level (SIL) clearly defined for the hardware components?
2
What percentage of failure modes have been analyzed for the hardware?
Min: 0
Target: 100
Max: 100
3
Provide justification for the selection of components used in the hardware architecture.
4
Is the diagnostic coverage for the hardware components satisfactory?
5
Provide an overview of the hardware architecture design.
6
What is the calculated MTBF for the hardware components?
Min: 0
Target: 5000
Max: 100000
7
How would you rate the overall reliability of the hardware?
8
Summarize the findings from the latest failure analysis report.
9
What was the date of the last maintenance performed on the hardware?
10
Does the hardware comply with relevant reliability standards?
11
How often are safety reviews conducted for the hardware?
12
Has safety training been provided to all personnel involved with the hardware?
13
Describe the incident reporting procedures in place for hardware issues.
14
How many safety incidents have been reported in the last year?
Min: 0
Target: 0
Max: 100
15
What is the action status for open safety issues identified?
16
What is the operational efficiency rate of the hardware?
Min: 0
Target: 95
Max: 100
17
List the key performance metrics used to evaluate the hardware.
18
Is the hardware meeting the defined performance standards?
19
Summarize user feedback regarding the hardware's performance.
20
When was the last performance review conducted for the hardware?
21
Is the hardware compliant with all relevant safety regulations?
22
Are all safety protocols documented and accessible to personnel?
23
How many safety audits have been conducted in the last year?
Min: 0
Target: 2
Max: 100
24
How effective is the incident response plan for hardware-related incidents?
25
Describe any safety improvement initiatives that have been implemented.

FAQs

This checklist covers hardware architecture design, component selection and qualification, failure mode analysis, diagnostic techniques, and hardware integration with other system elements.

It provides a structured approach to verify that hardware safety requirements are properly implemented, tested, and maintained, reducing the risk of hardware-related safety failures in critical systems.

This checklist should be used by hardware engineers, safety engineers, quality assurance specialists, and auditors involved in the design, implementation, and assessment of safety-critical hardware in the energy and utilities sector.

Key elements include hardware architecture design, component reliability data, failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), diagnostic coverage assessment, and hardware-software integration.

Assessments should be conducted during the initial design phase, before major hardware changes, and periodically (typically annually) to ensure ongoing compliance and safety integrity.

Benefits of IEC 61508 Hardware Safety Assessment Checklist

Ensures compliance with IEC 61508 hardware safety requirements

Improves hardware reliability in safety-critical systems

Reduces the risk of hardware-related safety incidents

Facilitates systematic evaluation of hardware architecture and components

Supports continuous improvement in hardware safety processes