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Synopsis
Ireland generated particular challenges for the project
and the TLG member. As in Belgium awareness of the standard
is low, but industry has also been slow to react to EU Directives,
in particular, ATEX and Pressure Regulations. Activity is
reaching a peak in terms of achieving ATEX compliance.
The
regulator, HSA is not as proactive as in some member states
in recognizing the role the standard can play in demonstrating
compliance with the Seveso Directive, nor are organisations
referring to IEC61508 in their safety case submissions as
is the case in the UK and Netherlands. In contrast to UK,
the Netherlands and Norway, seminars and conferences relating
to IEC61508 are limited in number and the number of trade
associations equally small.
The
TLG issued in excess of 300 invitations and secured articles
in Ireland’s journal of instrumentation and control, Read
Out. Some thirteen delegates had confirmed attendance
the day prior to the event and the Focus Group model was
therefore more appropriate. However, on the day only five
delegates attended, the others for a variety of reasons,
not least plant commissioning problems and compliance to
ATEX pressures, were unable to attend. In circumstances
like these SIPI has to adopt a flexible approach, and as
a number of the attendees were not conversant with the standard,
an IEC61508 tutorial was delivered, in addition to a case
study provided by Roche, which provided many ‘hints and
tips’ on implementing the standard. Roche are implementing
an improvement programme based on IEC61508 and have developed
internal training material for all engineering disciplines.
The presentation was particularly valuable in that it involved
a number of practical process plant examples and useful
reference material.
Whilst
the attendance was low, success was forthcoming in that
those who attended, supported by the TLG, agreed to continue
with the Focus Group. After the event those who could not
attend were contacted and offered their support to the continuance
of the Focus Group. Once the ATEX peak has been met, expected
end of June this year, interest will undoubtedly turn to
IEC61508 and the view of the TLG is that over the next six
to twelve months IEC61508 will become more visible.
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