Control Reliability & Functional Safety Services
EH&S Workplace Safety Services
Safety Interlock & Control Systems
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Functional Safety Reviews & Regulatory Verification
In the U.S., functional safety (such as ‘interlocks’ and safety devices) and control reliability are essential concepts for increasing safety and in fulfilling OSHA’s “Minor Servicing Exception” for lockout/tagout. Internationally, there are also tie-ins and compliance implications with ISO/IEC standards and CE marking for machinery.
With our safety verification and validation services, our experienced safety engineers at Machine Safety Specialists apply our specialized knowledge and real-world experience to your application, verifying compliance with regulatory requirements and validating machine safety functions. Conducted in the form of a functional safety review, our engineers conduct control liability design reviews with clear guidance on meeting standards – often based on your drawings and Bills of Materials. Both our Control Reliability and SISTEMA Analysis reports can be performed remotely and off site, and are conducted by our TÜV certified safety engineers. Our Control Reliability/Functional Safety Design Review service includes an engineering review of system drawings and technical information to see if a system is control reliable in accordance with OSHA, ANSI, and NFPA standards.
The SISTEMA Analysis and Report is a quantitative analysis of the machines functional safety system and calculations are based off of safety-related devices observed in customer supplied documentation. These safety solutions in functional safety are among our most popular options, but our team at MSS also offers additional solutions to meet your specific needs, including stop time measurement reports, validation plans, and validation testing reports.
Machine Safety Validation Review Process
Control Reliability Safety System Design
After and initial system review is performed, you may be ready to take the next step in designing or revamping your machine's electrical safety system. Traditional programical logic controllers (PLCs) have limitations when it comes to safety. Our control reliable safety system design and integration services through Arrow Industrial Solutions pick up where MSS leaves off and ensure your machinery meets the standards set forth by ANSI, and include the recomendations from your previous functional safety reviews, regardless of what professional engineers they were performed by. Generally, we ourselves also like to come on-site afterwards to inspect your machine with those reviews in hand. This framework helps us design systems that:
Prioritize Safety & Minimize Risk
We conduct thorough risk assessments to determine the appropriate Control Reliability Category for your specific needs. There's no "one size fits all" approach – we find the most effective solution for your application.
Prevent Single Point Failures
Our designs incorporate redundancy to eliminate situations where a single fault can cause an unsafe condition. This includes using dual inputs, safety devices, and monitoring systems.
Promote Fault Detection
We implement strategies to detect faults as soon as they occur, independent of the process control system, making them difficult to bypass.
Utilize Well-Tried Components
We select safety components with a proven track record of reliability, minimizing the chance of failure.
Prioritize Safety & Minimize Risk
We will design a control system hardware solution around your standards, preferred equipment suppliers and document formats.
Our team will design your facility’s electrical power distribution system to optimize safety, reliability, efficiency and control integration.
Instrumentation is specified to allow optimization using advanced process control (APC). We’ll specify and design instrumentation to optimize your process for safety, efficiency and reliability.
Arrow's design team coordinates with your production teams to seamlessly integrate these control systems to minimize production downtime and interference with operations.
FAQs About Our Functional Safety & Design Services
How can interlocked guards be integrated with existing machinery?
Integration of interlocking guards with existing machinery can be achieved through the following steps:
1.Conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify hazardous areas and determine the appropriate placement of guards.
2. Select interlocking devices that are compatible with the machinery and suitable for the identified hazards.
3. Ensure proper installation and alignment of interlocked guards with the machinery.
4. Connect interlocking devices to the control system of the machinery, establishing the necessary communication for activation and deactivation.
Are interlocked guards mandatory for regulatory compliance?
The requirement for interlocked guards depends on the specific industry and applicable regulations. However, in many cases, interlocked guards are indeed mandatory for regulatory compliance, including OSHA standards for machine guarding in the United States (29 CFR 1910.212) and ISO 14119, which provides guidance on interlocking devices associated with guards, and Industry-specific standards such as ANSI/PMMI B155.1 for packaging machinery safety.
Can interlocked guards be retrofitted to older machinery?
Yes, interlocking guards can often be retrofitted to older machinery to enhance safety. The process may involve:
- Conducting a risk assessment to identify the necessary guard modifications or additions.
- Identifying suitable interlocking devices that can be integrated with the existing machinery.
- Ensuring compatibility between the interlocking devices and the machinery's control system.
- Adhering to relevant industry standards and guidelines during the retrofitting process.
