Alarm Systems

A GUIDE TO DESIGN, MANAGEMENT AND PROCUREMENT

Course outline

1. Introduction
   How the HSE expects alarm systems to be managed
   Alarm System Management
   Policy Safety Case
2. Core principles of Alarm System Management
   Philosophy of Alarm System Management
3. Alarm System Design Overview
   Human Factors
   Structuring and Partitioning of Alarms
   Limits on claims for Safety Integrity Level (SIL)
4. Design Process
   Where do alarms come from?
   Safety, environmental or economic alarms
   Types of alarms
   Qualitative risk assessment
   Choice of alarm priorities
   Alarm settings
5. Procurement of alarm systems
   Investment appraisal
   Cost of poor alarms performance
   Specifications to ensure usability
6. Measuring performance
   Syndicate exercise and Surveys
   Performance metrics
   Audits and reviews
7. Managing an improvement programme
   Dealing with unwanted alarms
   Logical processing of alarms
   Repeating and fleeting alarms
8. HAZOP and alarms
   Alarms in context
   Preparation and boundaries
   Operator interface
   Alarm suppression hazard study
9. Summary
   Roadmaps