What is IEC 61508 and what does it cover?

IEC 61508 is the international standard for functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems. It provides a framework for designing, implementing, and maintaining safety systems across all industries. Key elements: lifecycle approach (from concept to decommissioning), safety integrity levels (SIL 1-4), hardware and software requirements, management of functional safety, and competency requirements. Industry-specific standards like IEC 61511 (process industry) and ISO 26262 (automotive) are derived from IEC 61508. It addresses both random hardware failures and systematic failures.