Hi Doug:
For safety, the issue seems to be reliance on the correct functioning of devices. As equipment becomes more and more complex, we are more reliant on the correct functioning of devices. An example is the modern day airplane. One specific example is the Air France flight from Buenos Aires to Paris. A pitot tube stopped working, so the airspeed indicator stopped working. The plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. However, the cause of the crash was pilot error in dealing with the loss of the airspeed indicator. The problem seems to me to be that we don’t understand the consequences and necessary action when we incur a functional safety failure. We are lulled into believing that functional safety cannot fail, and so we do not have an action plan in case of the failure. Rich From: Douglas E Powell <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, September 3, 2021 7:00 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [PSES] Over Reliance on Automated Safety Controls (Friday question) All, My question is probably philosophical. With the advent of Safety rated PLCs, Safety Relays, and other solid state and programmable safety devices in certified and listed products, are we at risk of becoming over reliant on automated safety systems. I'm thinking in terms of IEC 61508, ISO 12100, UL 1998, UL 991, and many others. While I agree that use of programmable devices for safety control is in our future, it seems we, as a society, are putting a lot of reliance in this. It is well known that zero risk is impossible, but it also seems that "people these days" routinely ignore the risks, and it is my view that humans have a very bad history of correctly estimating risk out in the wild. It's not my intention to pick on autonomous vehicles only, since I've seen this sort of care-less behavior played out in other places as well. Some keywords I have in mind: * Automation Dependency * Automation Bias * Automation Induced Complacency In general, do you feel we are becoming a society that relies too much on technology and automation to keep us safe from harm? I'm looking for an open discussion on this and what do you feel will be in store for us in the future. -Doug Douglas E Powell Laporte, Colorado USA <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] <http://www.linkedin.com/in/dougp01> http://www.linkedin.com/in/dougp01 - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe) <http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html> List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > Mike Cantwell <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > David Heald <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe) List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]>
