Software tools are never a substitute for competency

摘要

We've witnessed it; we've probably even experienced it. The "it" is the amazing effectiveness that safety life cycle software tools produce in the hands of competent users. As a result, there is a growing list of such tools on the market specifically designed to help ensure that potential hazards, safety instrumented functions (SIFs) and safety instrumented systems (SISs) are identified, assessed, designed, tested, installed, and operated in accordance with regulatory requirements and international safety standards. Unfortunately we've also likely witnessed and/or experienced the other extreme; poor results that exactly the same software tools may produce if used by someone who has the software user's manual lying in their lap. So don't think for a minute that automated software tools are a substitute for having a competent set of eyes to review both the software's input and its corresponding output.