Managing the risk of the Internet of Things - Control Engineering

"Nearly two decades ago, a disgruntled former employee used network access to remotely release sewage.

In 2007, researchers demonstrated that a generator could be destroyed by remotely opening and closing circuit breakers rapidly.

In 2014, hackers broke into the industrial network of a German steel mill and prevented a blast furnace from shutting down. 

With respect to the more modern IoT devices, a researcher hacked his insulin pump, others managed to compromise smart meters, and, in a segment aired on "60 Minutes," Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) scientists remotely controlled automobile brakes"

Read the article

 https://www.controleng.com/articles/managing-the-risk-of-the-internet-of-things/

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Industrial Internet of Things in safety applications

Fast Forward As more wireless and Web-based applications boost IIoT adoption, some functions have moved into safety areas.The wireless diagnostic devices and applications available now covers a huge range and continues to grow.The same techniques used to monitor equipment condition can also be used to monitor safety devices and systems protecting the plant.

 https://www.isa.org/intech-home/2018/march-april/features/iiot-in-safety-applications

Employee Location Monitoring in a Post-Pandemic World

Employee Location Monitoring in a Post-Pandemic World: The COVID-19 pandemic has unearthed a number of challenges for power plant managers. However, technology exists to keep workers safe. Through the use of Location Anchors and WirelessHART infrastructure

SIL and functional safety in rotating equipment

 SIL (safety integrity level) is a very important safety indicator that has been extensively discussed, described and often misunderstood within the industry over the past years. The purpose of this article is to provide operators, reliability engineers, instrumentation engineers and department managers with a practical overview of the areas where SIL and functional safety are important in their daily business life. Note that, in the light of the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) and most other safety relevant standards, risk is strictly defined as “harm to health safety environment” (HSE).

 Read more at SIL and functional safety in rotating equipment

Protect control valves when production slows

Protect control valves when production slows

ISA - INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS IN SAFETY APPLICATIONS

Good article...
Industrial Internet of Things in safety applications

Cybersecurity and physical safety in the plant | Engineer Live

Cybersecurity and physical safety in the plant | Engineer Live

The internet of zombies | Engineer Live

The internet of zombies | Engineer Live

PLC and DCS: How Do They Differ & How Did They Come About?

PLC and DCS: How Do They Differ & How Did They Come About?- Automation.com

Redundant solenoid manifolds

https://www.processingmagazine.com/redundant-valve-manifolds-help-hipps-achieve-sil-3/

Cross sensitivity of detectors

During an examination of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier whose cargo tanks contained ethylene vapors, CO (Carbon Monoxide) gas alarms were received which were traced to an eight-inch crack on a cargo vapor line.
It was noted that the molecular weight of Ethylene (28 g/mol) was identical to the molecular weight of CO, which accounted for the CO PPM readings.  Coast Guard personnel contacted the manufacturer who confirmed that gases such as methane, propane, ethylene and mercaptan, could actuate the CO sensor without ever coming into the range of the LEL limits.

As a result of these events the Coast Guard “strongly reminds all surveyors, marine inspectors, port state control examiners, and any other persons utilizing portable gas monitors and detectors while working onboard on Liquefied Gas Carriers to remain acutely aware that the ethylene gas vapors can exhibit cross-sensitivity.  This issue is not limited to the monitors that the Coast Guard uses but also those made by other manufacturers.  Everyone using a monitor must be aware that if the CO alarm goes off it may be an indication of dangerous gases or chemical vapors and not the presence of CO.  When the alarm sounds users must take corrective action to minimize exposure risks.”
Courtesy: USCG

New IEC 61511

https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/articles/2018/does-your-existing-sis-get-the-job-done/?show=all

Anatomy of an attack on Industrial Internet of things

https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities---threats/anatomy-of-an-attack-on-the-industrial-iot-/a/d-id/1331097?

Safety and automation

https://insideautomation.net/safety-automation-evaluating-a-critical-relationship/

Alarm floods and plant incidents

Alarm floods and plant incidents

The issues in BA and back up systems

The recent problems in British Airways flights all around the World due to failure of their computer systems is being attributed to a power failure and the back up systems did not come in line. Even though you have power back up systems, have you tested the time it requires to kick in? There are lessons to be learnt from the BA incident including crisis management.....

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Are your systems password protected?

An incident in a major US airline when the password for opening a commercial planes cockpit door was inadvertently made public is in the news recently. If you have any passwords for your control systems, do you manage them securely?

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How automation is improving

 How automation is improving

Contribute to the surviving victims of Bhopal by buying my book "Practical Process Safety Management"

Safety Integrity level - myths

 Safety Integrity level - myths


Contribute to the surviving victims of Bhopal by buying my book "Practical Process Safety Management"

Some more safety system myths

 Some more safety system myths

Contribute to the surviving victims of Bhopal by buying my book "Practical Process Safety Management"