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IEC 61508 Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) Audit Checklist

A detailed checklist for auditing Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) in accordance with IEC 61508, focusing on the design, implementation, and maintenance of critical safety layers in the energy and utilities sector.

IEC 61508 Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) Audit Checklist

by: audit-now
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About This Checklist

The IEC 61508 Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) Audit Checklist is a crucial tool for assessing the design, implementation, and maintenance of safety instrumented systems in the energy and utilities sector. This comprehensive checklist addresses the specific requirements outlined in IEC 61508 for SIS, focusing on the integrity and reliability of these critical safety layers. By meticulously evaluating sensor selection, logic solver configuration, final element performance, and overall system integration, this checklist helps organizations ensure that their SIS effectively mitigate process risks and maintain the required safety integrity levels. Implementing this checklist not only enhances process safety but also demonstrates a commitment to regulatory compliance and operational excellence in high-hazard environments.

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Industry

Energy and Utilities

Standard

IEC 61508 - Functional Safety of Electrical/Electronic Systems

Workspaces

Hazardous Areas
Engineering Offices
Industrial Plants
Control Rooms

Occupations

Process Safety Engineer
Control Systems Engineer
Instrumentation Engineer
Safety Auditor
Operations Manager
1
Is the Safety Integrity Level (SIL) verification for the SIS documented and up-to-date?
2
Describe the assessment process for the logic solver used in the SIS.
3
What is the average rating of sensor selection criteria based on industry standards?
Min: 1
Target: 4
Max: 5
4
Are the final elements of the SIS readily available for operation?
5
What is the maintenance status of the Safety Instrumented System?
6
Is the Safety Instrumented System fully functional during testing?
7
Provide details on the review of the incident response plan related to SIS failures.
8
What is the average frequency of training sessions for personnel operating the SIS?
Min: 1
Target: 2
Max: 12
9
When was the last audit of the Safety Instrumented System conducted?
10
Is the SIS compliant with IEC 61508 standards?
11
Describe the risk assessment methodology used for the SIS.
12
What is the estimated risk level associated with the SIS operations?
Min: 1
Target: 5
Max: 10
13
What is the status of the mitigation measures implemented for the identified risks?
14
When is the next scheduled risk review for the SIS?
15
Are emergency protocols for the SIS readily available and accessible to personnel?
16
Provide an overview of the performance metrics used to evaluate the SIS.
17
What is the average response time of the SIS during testing scenarios?
Min: 0
Target: 2
Max: 10
18
How would you assess the failure rate of the SIS over the past year?
19
When was the last performance test of the Safety Instrumented System conducted?
20
Are incident reporting procedures for SIS failures clearly defined and communicated to personnel?
21
Is the SIS compliant with IEC 61508 standards?
22
Describe the review process for the SIS documentation.
23
What is the frequency of audits conducted on the SIS per year?
Min: 1
Target: 2
Max: 12
24
When is the next scheduled audit for the SIS?
25
Have all corrective actions from previous audits been implemented?

FAQs

This checklist covers SIS architecture design, component selection, SIL verification, proof testing procedures, bypass management, and SIS performance monitoring and maintenance.

It provides a structured approach to verify that Safety Instrumented Systems are properly designed, implemented, and maintained to effectively mitigate process risks and prevent major accidents in energy and utility operations.

This checklist should be used by process safety engineers, control system specialists, instrumentation engineers, and safety auditors involved in the design, implementation, and assessment of SIS in the energy and utilities sector.

Key elements include SIS conceptual design, SIL determination and allocation, sensor and final element selection, logic solver configuration, proof test planning, failure rate data analysis, and SIS documentation management.

SIS should be audited at least annually, with additional assessments performed after any significant changes to the process, equipment, or control system, and during key stages of the SIS lifecycle such as design reviews and pre-startup safety reviews.

Benefits of IEC 61508 Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) Audit Checklist

Ensures compliance with IEC 61508 requirements for Safety Instrumented Systems

Improves the reliability and effectiveness of safety-critical control systems

Reduces the risk of process safety incidents through systematic SIS evaluation

Facilitates proper allocation and verification of Safety Integrity Levels (SIL)

Supports continuous improvement in SIS design and maintenance practices