Tino Vande Capelle, Senior Functional Safety Expert & Trainer, will be presenting at Hazardex Live 2026 about rethinking priorities in Functional Safety and a shift towards a management and assessment-centric approach.
In the domain of functional safety, particularly within the contexts governed by IEC 61511 and ISA 61511 standards, there is a prevailing overemphasis on quantitative metrics and calculations. This trend, while seemingly rigorous, often overshadows the more critical aspects of functional safety management (FSM) and the execution of comprehensive functional safety assessments (FSAs). This paper argues that true advancements in functional safety are not primarily driven by numerical data alone but by robust FSM processes and thorough FSAs.
Effective FSM involves structured and systematic procedures to ensure that all aspects of safety lifecycle are managed and maintained from design through to decommissioning. FSAs serve as the backbone of functional safety, providing a critical review mechanism that ensures safety systems are fit for purpose, not just on paper, but in real operational environments. These assessments help identify potential safety-related deficiencies that might not be evident through numerical analysis alone.
The paper will discuss how a shift towards a more management and assessment-focused approach can lead to better safety outcomes. It will also explore practical strategies for enhancing FSM practices and optimizing FSA methodologies. By redirecting the focus from numbers to nuanced safety management and evaluation, organizations can achieve a more reliable and effective safety system that complies with the rigorous demands of IEC 61511 and ISA 61511 standards.
This approach not only aligns with the spirit of these standards, which aim to protect human life, the environment, and business assets, but also offers a more sustainable and effective pathway to achieving operational safety excellence.
About the speaker: Tino Vande Capelle – Senior Functional Safety Expert & Trainer, Safety & Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems SIS & IACS – was educated in Belgium where he gained qualification in Automation & Critical Control Systems. During his 30+ years career in the process industry performing technical HW & SW engineering, process control engineering, troubleshooting and field instrumentation. He is senior Functional Safety Expert (#109/05) & accredit Trainer for the SIS program of TÜV Rheinland and is a senior member of ISA. He finds purpose in sharing his knowledge and learning from others while providing Functional Safety training in IEC61508 & IEC61511. He has published many papers and magazine articles and is frequently sought after for seminars and presentations based on his international recognized passion and mastery of the subject matter.