The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Safety engineering SFEN

The application of appropriate methods to assure safety during all lifecycle phases of safety-related systems developments, including maintenance and re-use. These include safety hazard and risk analysis, safety requirements specification, safety-related system architectural design, formal method design, safety validation and verification, and safety case preparation.

Moving to SFIA 8 

There is an updated version of this skill for SFIA 8. 

  • The skill descriptions have been edited for readability and guidance notes have been added
  • Details available here - SFIA 8 Safety engineering
  • SFIA 7 skill descriptions will remain available for you to use 
  • Previous SFIA assessments are not impacted by this change. 

Levels

Defined at these levels: 3 4 5 6

Safety engineering: Levels 1-2

This skill is not typically observed when working at these levels of responsibility.

Safety engineering: Level 3

Assists with the collection of safety assurance evidence, undertaking all work in accordance with agreed safety, technical and quality standards, using appropriate methods and tools. Documents the results of hazard and risk analysis activities.

Safety engineering: Level 4

Contributes to the identification, analysis and documentation of hazards, and to the capture, evaluation and specification of safety requirements. Analyses and documents safety validation results. Contributes to the development and maintenance of project safety assurance plans, and gathers safety assurance evidence for safety case preparation.

Safety engineering: Level 5

Identifies and analyses hazards and contributes to the identification and evaluation of risk reduction measures, ensuring these are adequately documented. Specifies safety-related systems architectures up to the highest safety integrity levels. Develops and maintains project safety assurance plans, monitors compliance and ensures that safety assurance evidence is gathered for safety case preparation.

Safety engineering: Level 6

Takes full responsibility for hazard analysis and risk assessment, safety-related system architectural design, safety assurance planning and compliance and safety case preparation on systems up to the highest safety integrity levels. Takes responsibility for the safety-related aspects of multiple complex or high safety integrity level projects, providing effective leadership to team members.

Safety engineering: Level 7

This skill is not typically observed when working at this level of responsibility.