Product category:
Safety and Safety Systems
News Release from: HSE | Subject: HSG283
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 29 September 2004
Plants 'Out of Control' with system
failures
Sixty percent of all control system failures are built-in before operation commences, report the HSE, according to the Journal Control Engineering Europe in its Factfile for this month
Sixty percent of all control system failures are built-in before operation commences, report the HSE, according to the Control Engineering Europe Factfile this month In the UK the HSE recently published a small book entitled "Out of Control: Why control systems go wrong, and how to prevent failure"
The book analyses 12 control system failures that caused fatal crushing, amputation, physical trapping, microwave injury, gas releases, and so on, and shows how the incidents could have been prevented.
It goes on to look at another 22 incidents.
A startling conclusion is that, in the 34 incidents analysed, 44% had inadequate specification as their primary cause.
Other causes were listed.
* 20% changes after commissioning.
* 15% design and implementation.
* 15% operation and maintenance.
* 6% installation and commissioning.
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