Conformity assessment of safety related systems to IEC 61508-the CASS initiative

Since the mid 1980s, industry has placed increasing reliance on programmable safety-related systems. Both the Department of Trade & Industry and the Health & Safety Executive have supported a number of research and development programmes within this field to increase awareness, encourage technology transfer, foster the development of methods, tools and conformity assessment schemes, and address the issues around competency of safety practitioners. This article outlines the CASS initiative, which is supported by the DTI under its Sector Challenge Programme and is tasked with developing a conformity assessment scheme for safety-related systems based on IEC 61508.