How do the regulatory authorities view IEC 61508?

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) are one of the bodies which make up the competent authority within the United Kingdom (UK) with responsibility to regulate and enforce health and safety within the workplace.

The HSE will use IEC 61508 as a reference standard for determining whether a reasonably practicable level of safety has been achieved when E/E/PE systems are used to carry out safety functions.

The extent to which HSE will use IEC 61508 will depend on individual circumstances; whether any sector standards based on IEC61508 have been developed and whether there are existing specific industry standards or guidelines.