IEC 61508 Safety Lifecycle Management Audit Checklist

A comprehensive checklist for auditing the entire safety lifecycle management process in accordance with IEC 61508, focusing on maintaining consistent safety standards from concept to decommissioning in the energy and utilities sector.

IEC 61508 Safety Lifecycle Management Audit Checklist
by: audit-now
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About This Checklist

The IEC 61508 Safety Lifecycle Management Audit Checklist is a vital tool for ensuring comprehensive safety management throughout the entire lifecycle of safety-related systems in the energy and utilities sector. This checklist addresses the overarching principles of functional safety management as outlined in IEC 61508, covering all phases from concept to decommissioning. By systematically evaluating safety planning, risk assessment, implementation, operation, and modification processes, this checklist helps organizations maintain consistent safety standards, ensure regulatory compliance, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. Implementing this checklist not only enhances overall safety performance but also demonstrates a commitment to best practices in safety lifecycle management for critical infrastructure.

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Industry

Energy and Utilities

Standard

IEC 61508

Workspaces

Control rooms
engineering offices
operational facilities
maintenance workshops

Occupations

Safety Manager
Project Manager
Systems Engineer
Operations Manager
Maintenance Supervisor

Safety Lifecycle Management Assessment

(0 / 4)

1
How frequently is safety performance monitored?

Select monitoring frequency.

To assess the frequency of safety performance checks and identify areas for improvement.
2
Describe the change management process in place for safety improvements.

Explain the change management process.

To evaluate the effectiveness and thoroughness of the change management process.
3
What is the risk assessment score for the current safety measures?

Provide a score between 1 and 5.

To quantify the effectiveness of safety measures against identified risks.
Min: 1
Target: 2
Max: 5
4
Is the safety documentation up to date and compliant with IEC 61508?

Select compliance status.

To ensure that all safety documentation meets the required standards for compliance.
5
What is the compliance level for safety training among employees?

Select the compliance level.

To assess whether employees have completed the required safety training.
6
How many safety incidents have been reported in the last year?

Enter the number of safety incidents.

To evaluate safety performance and identify trends in safety incidents.
Min: 0
Target: 0
Max: 100
7
What are the key findings from the review of the Safety Lifecycle Management Plan?

Summarize key findings.

To document insights and necessary improvements identified during the review of the plan.
8
Is the functional safety audit completed for all relevant systems?

Select the status of the functional safety audit.

To confirm that all necessary audits have been conducted to ensure compliance with functional safety standards.
9
How would you rate the level of emergency preparedness in your operational area?

Select the preparedness level.

To evaluate the readiness of the operational area to handle emergencies effectively.
10
What continuous improvement initiatives have been implemented to enhance safety?

List the initiatives implemented.

To identify proactive measures taken to improve safety standards and reduce risks.
11
What is the average time taken to resolve safety incidents (in days)?

Enter the average time in days.

To assess the efficiency of incident resolution processes.
Min: 0
Target: 5
Max: 30
12
How effective is the incident reporting process in capturing safety events?

Select the effectiveness level of the reporting process.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the incident reporting system in ensuring safety events are documented and addressed.
13
What is the completion rate for safety training among employees?

Select the completion rate.

To evaluate the effectiveness of safety training programs and employee participation.
14
Summarize the key findings from the last safety audit.

Provide a summary of the findings.

To ensure that findings are documented for future reference and improvement.
15
How many risk assessment actions have been documented in the last quarter?

Enter the total number of actions.

To track the activity and responsiveness to identified risks.
Min: 0
Target: 10
Max: 100
16
Are all safety equipment and devices compliant with IEC 61508 standards?

Select the compliance status of safety equipment.

To ensure that all safety equipment meets the legal and safety standards required for operation.
17
How frequently are safety audits conducted?

Select the frequency of audits.

To assess the regularity of safety inspections and ensure compliance.
18
What recent improvements have been made to enhance safety performance?

Describe the improvements made.

To document proactive measures taken to improve safety within the organization.
19
How many safety procedures have been reviewed in the past year?

Enter the number of reviewed procedures.

To measure the thoroughness of safety procedure evaluations.
Min: 0
Target: 15
Max: 100
20
How well is the safety management system integrated with other operational processes?

Select the integration level.

To assess the effectiveness of the integration of safety management with overall operations.

FAQs

This checklist covers all phases of the safety lifecycle, including concept definition, overall scope definition, hazard and risk analysis, safety requirements specification, realization, installation, operation and maintenance, modification, and decommissioning.

It provides a structured framework for continuously assessing and improving safety processes throughout the entire lifecycle of safety-related systems, ensuring that safety considerations are maintained from initial concept to final decommissioning.

This checklist should involve a cross-functional team including safety managers, project managers, engineers, operators, and maintenance personnel responsible for different aspects of the safety lifecycle in energy and utilities organizations.

Key elements include safety planning, risk assessment methodologies, safety requirement allocation, verification and validation processes, change management procedures, and safety performance monitoring.

A comprehensive audit should be conducted annually, with additional reviews performed at key transition points between lifecycle phases or when significant changes are made to the safety-related system or its operating environment.

Benefits

Ensures consistent application of IEC 61508 principles across the entire safety lifecycle

Improves coordination between different phases of safety system development and operation

Reduces the risk of safety gaps or oversights in long-term system management

Facilitates effective safety documentation and traceability

Supports a holistic approach to functional safety management