Forthcoming event
April 1st 2005

BARA announces Machine Safety and Functional Safety Conference with backing from the HSE, engineering institutions and Health & Safety Matters

BARA, the British Automation and Robotics Association, is organising a new Machine Safety and Functional Safety Conference to be held in the Rootes Social Building, University of Warwick, Coventry, from 10:00am to 3:30pm on 11 May 2005. It is aimed at specifiers and designers of machinery and safety related electrical control systems (SRECS), as well as managers and engineers responsible for machinery safety within their work environment.

Sponsors include the HSE - which has recently become a member of BARA - plus the IMechE, IEE, IIE, Industrialsafetytalk, Control Engineering Europe, Health and Safety Matters, Elite Control Systems, Pilz Automation Technology, Procter Machine Guarding and SIRA.

Dr Richard Piggin, Chairman of BARA's Safety SIG (Special Interest Group), comments: "BARA's first three machine safety seminars were extremely successful, but this latest event covers functional safety in far greater depth. Functional safety is core to IEC/EN 61508 and IEC 62061, yet the concept is alien to many machine builders and system integrators. Furthermore, EN 954-1 is still current and its planned replacement (ISO 13849- 1) has been delayed, partly due to controversy over its complexity compared with EN 954-1.

"This conference will address various issues surrounding machine safety and functional safety in the context of the current and forthcoming standards, with the aim of dispelling any confusion once and for all."

Three speakers from the HSE will discuss the current and future standards relating to machine safety and functional safety, as well as the implications of using industrial communications systems for safety relevant data.

The subject of competency management in the context of functional safety will be discussed by a consultant from Pilz Automation Technology, and the importance of functional safety certification for an end user will be covered by SIRA.

Speakers from Elite Control Systems and Land Rover will present their experiences of implementing functional safety from the perspective of a system integrator and an end user, respectively.

As well as question-and-answer sessions during the conference, there will be opportunities for delegates to meet the speakers during the refreshment breaks and at the table-top exhibition that will be situated adjacent to the lecture theatre. In addition, many of the sponsoring organisations and members of BARA will be exhibiting products, systems and services relevant to machine safety and functional safety.

Dr Richard Piggin says: “The last BARA seminar was heavily oversubscribed, so we are expecting a great deal of interest in this event. We are extremely fortunate to have such a strong line-up of speakers, and the level of involvement by the HSE is a clear demonstration of the importance the HSE is placing on functional safety for machinery.”

The cost of the conference is £99 per delegate or £89 for members of BARA, IEE, IMechE or IIE (if paid in advance, otherwise £150), which includes a buffet lunch, light refreshments and conference material on a CD-Rom; prices are + VAT.

Places are strictly limited, so register quickly if you are interested in attending. Registration can be completed online via the Events section of the BARA website at www.bara.org.uk . Any questions should be emailed to BARA_A@WMGMAIL.wmg.warwick.ac.uk or telephone 07913 568904.

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