The convergence of safety and operational performance marks a key transformation in the way modern process industries are run. They are no longer treated as separate conversations; a unified approach is taken instead, enabled by integrated systems and delivering real-time insights. At the heart of this shift is the Safety Lifecycle Digitalisation (SLD) Dashboard, which enables operators, engineers and decision-makers to maintain compliance, optimise maintenance and improve safety outcomes.

Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) automatically bring hazardous processes to a safe state when abnormal process conditions are detected. However, an abundance of data in many places means that managing an SIS can be challenging.

This data, which includes proof testing schedules, device failure logs and Safety Instrumented Function (SIF) performance reports, is usually scattered across departments, stored in different formats on different platforms, and is prone to human error during manual processing. It is practically impossible to manually maintain optimal system performance.

In response to this critical industry challenge, the SLD Dashboard combines multiple data streams into a single interface. Examples of the value it delivers include automating proof testing by scheduling, executing and documenting tests with minimal manual effort, reducing weeks of work down to just hours while ensuring full compliance with IEC 61511.

The dashboard can also capture operational failure rates and compare them with initial design assumptions, validating the SIS design assumptions throughout the life of the plant. This allows for dynamic adjustments that maintain Safety Integrity Level (SIL) targets from start-up to decommissioning.

Additionally, it supports SIF performance monitoring by tracking key indicators such as availability and spurious trip rates, effectively reducing differences between original design intent and current operational reality.

The SLD Dashboard serves as a single source of safety information that streamlines every stage of the safety lifecycle, from planning and execution to visualisation and documentation.

This platform enables teams to view test schedules and overdue tasks, quickly identify devices or systems that are drifting from their SIL targets, access dynamic Probability of Failure on Demand (PFD) calculations and instantly retrieve validated reports for audits or management reviews. By integrating TÜV-certified lifecycle management tools with an intuitive user interface, the dashboard enables both regulatory compliance and operational clarity, further empowering teams to maintain safer, more reliable systems with greater efficiency.

A key example of the platform’s efficient usage can be seen in Egypt, where a major ongoing industrial project is leveraging HIMA’s SLD Dashboard technology to manage hundreds of SIFs across multiple units.

By centralising proof testing, failure data and performance metrics into a single hub, the project team has improved both the frequency and quality of safety interventions. The platform has delivered early insights that have reduced downtime, accelerated decision-making and delivered measurable efficiency gains in maintenance planning.

“The SLD Dashboard is much more than just a monitoring tool; it functions as a vital command centre for safety. It merges automated testing, intelligent analytics and visual insights into one platform, offering operators a level of control and visibility like never before. This enables faster actions, smarter plants and the ability to maintain safety integrity without compromising operational efficiency.”

Over a plant’s life, designs evolve, equipment ages and processes adapt, all of which means that proving safety is a dynamic objective.

Without continuous monitoring and agile data-driven decision-making, gaps can emerge, sometimes unnoticed, until a critical moment. HIMA’s SLD Dashboard equips operators with the visibility and control to ensure that their safety systems are not just operational but fully optimised.

As more facilities embrace digitalisation, the role and functionality of the SLD Dashboard will continue to increase.

By blending automated testing, intelligent data analytics and intuitive visualisation into one hub, it is redefining the standard for safety lifecycle management, making plants safer, more efficient and resilient. The SLD Dashboard is not just an evolution in safety technology, it delivers a step change towards a new era of data-driven plant management.

The author is Andrew Dennant, VP/GM of HIMA Middle East.