IEC 62508:2010

Guidance on human aspects of dependability

IEC 62508:2010 provides guidance on the human aspects of dependability, and the human-centred design methods and practices that can be used throughout the whole system life cycle to improve dependability performance. This standard describes qualitative approaches. This first edition cancels and replaces IEC/PAS 62508 published in 2007.

Lignes directrices relatives aux facteurs humains dans la sûreté de fonctionnement

La CEI 62508:2010 fournit des lignes directrices relatives aux facteurs humains dans la sûreté de fonctionnement, ainsi que des méthodes et pratiques de conception centrées sur l'intervention de l'homme et qui peuvent être utilisées tout au long du cycle de vie du système afin d'améliorer les performances de sûreté de fonctionnement. La présente norme décrit des approches qualitatives. La présente édition annule et remplace le CEI/PAS 62508 publié en 2007.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 27-Jun-2010
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 03.120.01 - Quality in general
• ICS: 33.120.30 - RF connectors
• Technical Committee: TC 56 - Dependability
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 31-Jul-2010
• Completion Date: 28-Jun-2010

Relations

• Replaces: IEC PAS 62508:2007 - Guidance on human factors engineering for system life cycle applications
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 62508 ®
Edition 1.0 2010-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Guidance on human aspects of dependability

Lignes directrices relatives aux facteurs humains dans la sûreté de
fonctionnement
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either IEC or
IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,
please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

Droits de reproduction réservés. Sauf indication contraire, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite
ni utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie
et les microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de la CEI ou du Comité national de la CEI du pays du demandeur.
Si vous avez des questions sur le copyright de la CEI ou si vous désirez obtenir des droits supplémentaires sur cette
publication, utilisez les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de la CEI de votre pays de résidence.

IEC Central Office
3, rue de Varembé
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.
ƒ Catalogue of IEC publications: www.iec.ch/searchpub
The IEC on-line Catalogue enables you to search by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical committee,…).
It also gives information on projects, withdrawn and replaced publications.
ƒ IEC Just Published: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published details twice a month all new publications released. Available
on-line and also by email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and electrical terms containing more than 20 000 terms and definitions
in English and French, with equivalent terms in additional languages. Also known as the International Electrotechnical
Vocabulary online.
ƒ Customer Service Centre: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need further assistance, please visit the Customer Service
Centre FAQ or contact us:
Email: [e-mail]
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
A propos de la CEI
La Commission Electrotechnique Internationale (CEI) est la première organisation mondiale qui élabore et publie des
normes internationales pour tout ce qui a trait à l'électricité, à l'électronique et aux technologies apparentées.

A propos des publications CEI
Le contenu technique des publications de la CEI est constamment revu. Veuillez vous assurer que vous possédez
l’édition la plus récente, un corrigendum ou amendement peut avoir été publié.
ƒ Catalogue des publications de la CEI: www.iec.ch/searchpub/cur_fut-f.htm
Le Catalogue en-ligne de la CEI vous permet d’effectuer des recherches en utilisant différents critères (numéro de référence,
texte, comité d’études,…). Il donne aussi des informations sur les projets et les publications retirées ou remplacées.
ƒ Just Published CEI: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Restez informé sur les nouvelles publications de la CEI. Just Published détaille deux fois par mois les nouvelles
publications parues. Disponible en-ligne et aussi par email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
Le premier dictionnaire en ligne au monde de termes électroniques et électriques. Il contient plus de 20 000 termes et
définitions en anglais et en français, ainsi que les termes équivalents dans les langues additionnelles. Egalement appelé
Vocabulaire Electrotechnique International en ligne.
ƒ Service Clients: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv/custserv_entry-f.htm
Si vous désirez nous donner des commentaires sur cette publication ou si vous avez des questions, visitez le FAQ du
Service clients ou contactez-nous:
Email: [e-mail]
Tél.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
IEC 62508 ®
Edition 1.0 2010-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Guidance on human aspects of dependability

Lignes directrices relatives aux facteurs humains dans la sûreté de
fonctionnement
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
XA
CODE PRIX
ICS 03.120.01 ISBN 978-2-88912-023-9
– 2 – 62508 © IEC:2010
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.4
INTRODUCTION.6
1 Scope.7
2 Normative references .7
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations .7
3.1 Terms and definitions .7
3.2 Abbreviations .10
4 Human aspects.10
4.1 Overview .10
4.2 Components of the system and their interactions.11
4.2.1 Introductory remark .11
4.2.2 Goals.11
4.2.3 Humans.12
4.2.4 Machine (interactive system) .12
4.2.5 Social and physical environment.13
4.2.6 Output .13
4.2.7 Feedback from the machine to the person .13
4.3 Human characteristics .14
4.3.1 Introductory remark .14
4.3.2 Human limitations.14
4.3.3 Comparison of humans and machines .14
4.4 Human performance shaping factors .15
4.4.1 External performance shaping factors.16
4.4.2 Internal performance shaping factors.16
4.5 Human reliability analysis (HRA) .16
4.5.1 Overview .16
4.5.2 Identifying the potential for human error .17
4.5.3 Analysing human failures to define countermeasures .17
4.5.4 Quantification of human reliability.18
4.6 Critical systems.18
4.7 Human-centred design guidelines.19
4.8 Human-centred design process .20
4.8.1 Human-centred design principles within the design process .20
4.8.2 Human-centred design activities .21
5 Human-oriented design in the system lifecycle .21
5.1 Overview .21
5.2 The system life cycle .22
5.3 Integrating human-oriented design in systems engineering.23
6 Human-oriented design at each life cycle stage .24
6.1 Overview .24
6.2 Concept/definition stage.24
6.2.1 Concept.24
6.2.2 Human-centred design planning .24
6.2.3 Understanding needs.25
6.2.4 System requirements.25
6.2.5 Human-centred design requirements .25

62508 © IEC:2010 – 3 –
6.3 Design/development.26
6.4 Realization/implementation.26
6.5 Operation/maintenance .27
6.6 Enhancement .27
6.7 Retirement/decommission .28
6.8 Outsourcing projects and related human-centred design issues.28
7 Human-centred design methods .29
7.1 Classification of human-centred design activities.29
7.2 Applications of human-centred design methods.30
Annex A (informative) Examples of HRA methods.31
Annex B (informative) Summary of human-oriented design activities and their impact
on system dependability .37
Annex C (informative) Best practices for human-centred design.41
Bibliography.47

Figure 1 – Components of the system and their interactions .11
Figure 2 – Human performance shaping factors .16
Figure 3 – Simple model of human information processing.17
Figure 4 – Human-centred design activities .21
Figure 5 – Human aspects of the system life cycle.23

Table 1 – People who influence dependability.12
Table A.1 – HRA methods and their application .31
Table B.1 – Automation .37
Table B.2 – Design for maintainability.37
Table B.3 – Computer-human interface.38
Table B.4 – Incorporation of displays, controls and alarm functions .39
Table B.5 – Incorporation of input devices .39
Table B.6 – Environment.40
Table B.7 – Safety .40
Table B.8 – Security .40
Table C.1 – Examples of methods and techniques that contribute to best practices .41

– 4 – 62508 © IEC:2010
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
GUIDANCE ON HUMAN ASPECTS OF DEPENDABILITY

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Spe
...