Functional Safety for Field Instrumentation Suppliers — IEC 61508 and IEC 61511

Practical training for professionals who sell, apply, commission, and support SIL-related field devices in the process industry.

Learn what end users actually look for, what "SIL-capable" really means, and how supplier data, documentation, configuration guidance, and service work influence safety performance in the field. Three intensive days. Exam included.

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Live Online or In-Person · 3 days · ~24 hours · Open-book exam · 4-week exam window

Upcoming Sessions

All sessions include the course and optional Specialist certificate exam. Contact us to register or to enquire about a corporate session at your site.

Dates	Format	Location	Instructor	Status
To be announced	Live Online	Zoom — open to all	Dr. Michel Houtermans	Contact us

Need a session at your company's site? Contact us on WhatsApp to discuss a corporate class.

What You Will Be Able to Do

Explain functional safety clearly in supplier-customer conversations — without oversimplifying or overclaiming.
Understand SIL in context: SIL is a system-level target, not a device label, and "SIL-capable" has defined conditions.
Identify what end users look for in IEC 61508 evidence — type, mode, SFF, failure rates, diagnostics, limits, and documentation.
Support safe application and commissioning by understanding failure behaviour, architectures, and constraints that drive SIL capability.
Avoid systematic failures introduced through parameters, configuration changes, maintenance, and service practices.
Read and explain certification correctly: what certificates demonstrate, what they do not, and how scope and assumptions matter.
Connect cybersecurity to functional safety for field devices, including the relevance of IEC 62443 concepts.
Prepare for the Risknowlogy knowledge certification and demonstrate your competence to customers and colleagues.

Certificates You Can Earn

Complete the training and pass the optional open-book exam within 4 weeks to earn your certificate.

Risknowlogy Knowledge Certificates

Internationally recognised knowledge certificates, linked to your personal Safety Passport®.

Risknowlogy Specialist Certificate — Functional Safety for Field Instrumentation Suppliers — Specialist — Prove your knowledge of functional safety for field devices.

Risknowlogy Specialist with Distinction Certificate — Functional Safety for Field Instrumentation Suppliers — Specialist with Distinction — Stand out with 85%+.

Your Instructor

Dr. Michel Houtermans

Founder, Lead Instructor & Functional Safety Master — Risknowlogy

30+ years of experience in functional safety across oil & gas, chemicals, energy, and manufacturing.
Issued 250+ compliance certificates for products, subsystems, and safety solutions.
Issued 5,000+ competence certificates to professionals worldwide.
Deep practical experience with IEC 61508 device evidence, IEC 61511 end-user expectations, and real assessment practice.
Knows exactly what end users look for — and where supplier documentation and declarations fall short.

The course is vendor-neutral and standards-driven, focused on supplier responsibilities and real-world outcomes.

What Students Say

"This course has accelerated my development in the world of functional safety and has been a great aide in my day-to-day work. It could do the same for my colleagues."

Ashley James — United Kingdom

"It was a very educational course. The trainer was very competent and knows what he is talking about. Every colleague should follow this course."

M. de Kok — Rütgers Resins, Netherlands

"Trainer clearly explained the SIL concepts as they apply to SIS and I feel that I learned something really valuable for my job and career."

R. Saravannan — Petronash, UAE

"Every engineer working in our industry should have training in functional safety. Thank you for the great training — I learnt a lot and it will help me perform better."

Rajadwid Goon — Petrofac, Sharjah

"Amazing training. Gained a lot of knowledge on how to deal with functional safety."

G. de Deckere — Dow Benelux, Netherlands

Who This Course Is For

Professionals working for or with instrumentation suppliers who support SIL-related field devices:

Product managers responsible for SIL-related field devices and their market positioning.
Sales and application engineers who answer customer questions about functional safety and SIL capability.
Service and commissioning engineers who configure, install, and maintain SIL-related devices in the field.
Technical specialists supporting customers on SIL device selection, documentation, and compliance questions.

Who This Course Is Not For

Engineers who design and develop field devices under IEC 61508 — device development lifecycle training is different.
End users responsible for defining safety functions or required SIL.
EPCs and system integrators looking for full SIS design, SIL verification, or lifecycle implementation programs.

This course focuses on the supplier role: enabling correct selection, application, commissioning, and lifecycle support — without undermining the safety function.

How the Course Works

Three intensive days, instructor-led. Available as Live Online or In-Person.

Live Online: Delivered via Zoom or Teams — full interaction with the instructor throughout.
In-Person: On-site or at a Risknowlogy training location — maximum group interaction and case discussions.
12 modules covering the full supplier perspective on IEC 61508 and IEC 61511.
Vendor-neutral and standards-driven — no product promotion, no shortcuts.
Open-book exam within 4 weeks of completing the training — optional, no pressure during the course.
Corporate sessions available — contact us to run this course at your site for your team.

Course Modules

Functional Safety in the Process Industry
Failure Modes of SIFs and Subsystems
Safety Integrity Levels (SIL)
How End Users Determine Required SIL
From HRA to SRS — where suppliers influence outcomes
SIL-Capable Equipment — hardware integrity, systematic capability, assumptions, and limits
Hardware Architecture Design — voting, redundancy, HFT, and architectural constraints
Hardware Reliability and PFD — what failure rates and diagnostics mean for suppliers
Software and Parametrisation — why configuration is part of the safety function
Certification and SIL Declarations — how to interpret and explain scope, assumptions, and evidence
Cybersecurity and Functional Safety — IEC 62443 context for field devices
Trends and What's Coming — digitalisation, connectivity, and the evolving supplier role

Choose Your Option

Option	What is included
Training Only	Full course access — all three days of instructor-led training. No exam. Ideal if your organisation manages certification internally.
Training + Specialist Certificate	Course + open-book exam within 4 weeks. Earn Specialist (≥60%) or Specialist with Distinction (≥85%). One free retake included. Achievement recorded in your Safety Passport®.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the course delivered?

Live Online or In-Person instructor-led training. Both formats include full interaction with the instructor throughout all three days.

Are there prerequisites?

No formal prerequisites. Familiarity with field instrumentation and SIL-related customer questions is helpful but not required.

Which standards are covered?

IEC 61508 and IEC 61511, with cybersecurity considerations including reference to IEC 62443.

Is there an exam?

Yes — an optional open-book knowledge exam is available after the training. You have 4 weeks after completing the course to take it.

What if I fail the exam?

One retake is free of charge. Contact Risknowlogy and a new exam access window will be arranged.

Will I get a Safety Passport®?

Yes. Every participant who completes a Risknowlogy training and takes an exam receives a personal, online Safety Passport® documenting their achievement and level.

Is this course for device designers or developers?

No. This course is for supplier roles supporting SIL-related field devices — product, sales, application, commissioning, and service. Device development lifecycle training under IEC 61508 is a different program.

Does this course certify products or organisations?

No. This is a professional training with an optional Risknowlogy knowledge certificate for individuals. It does not certify products, systems, or organisations.

Can this course be delivered at our company site?

Yes. Risknowlogy offers corporate in-person sessions at your site. Contact us on WhatsApp to discuss dates, group size, and pricing.

Ready to Register?

Questions about dates, formats, or corporate sessions? Talk to us directly — we respond fast.

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About the course