Hargrove Controls & Automation's Karen Griffin, P.E., and Heath Stephens, P.E., Achieve TÜV Rheinland Functional Safety Engineer Certification

MOBILE, Ala., Jan. 4, 2024 Hargrove Controls & Automation, a leading industrial automation system integrator and a subsidiary of global EPC firm Hargrove Engineers & Constructors, announced today that Karen Griffin, P.E., Vice President of Controls & Automation, and Heath Stephens, P.E., Digitalization Leader, have achieved TÜV Rheinland Functional Safety Engineer Certifications.

The program for the Functional Safety Engineer Certification is based on functional safety standards AS/IEC 61508 – As/IEC 61511, set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This certification demonstrates Hargrove Controls & Automation's dedication to safety and meeting OSHA requirements for employees to be trained with "an emphasis on-specific safety and health hazards, emergency operations including shutdown, and safe work practices applicable to the employees job tasks."

Keeping current with industry standards is important for all personnel performing work in the field of Process Safety. This includes leadership staff working in the field, so they can help identify obstacles, provide insight based on best practices, and seek innovative ways to improve processes.

"OSHA requires all personnel involved in a hazardous chemical process to be adequately trained," said Chet Barton, P.E., FS Eng, Controls & Automation Process Safety Industry Leader at Hargrove Controls & Automation. "The TÜV Rheinland Functional Safety Certification is widely accepted as demonstration of competency in their area of expertise. Knowledge, insights, and best practices from this certification can be implemented to ensure a safe facility for all manufacturing personnel."

TÜV Rheinland is the world's leading testing service provider, serving as an independent third party providing safety and quality testing and training in a multitude of industries including environmental engineering, IT, and consumer goods. The Functional Safety Engineering Course covers content such as process hazard and risk assessments, safety requirement specifications, SIS design and engineering (AP development), and management of functional safety.

"TÜV requires engineers to retrain and retest every ten years; this was a recertification class for me. This is important because best practices are always evolving," said Heath Stephens, P.E. who received his original certification in 2012. "I learned about the latest standard changes and how they are being implemented. It was a great opportunity to sharpen my skills and interact with our clients."

"Keeping current with industry standards is important for all personnel performing work in the field of Process Safety," said Karen Griffin, P.E. "This includes leadership staff working in the field, so they can help identify obstacles, provide insight based on best practices, and seek innovative ways to improve processes."

About Hargrove Controls & Automation

Hargrove Controls & Automation, a CSIA Certified system integrator, is a subsidiary of Hargrove Engineers & Constructors, a global EPC firm. The company is one of few multi-service automation groups in the country for plant automation, safety systems, industrial internet of things and industrial digitalization. Since its inception in 2012, the Hargrove Controls & Automation's team has grown to over 130 control systems engineers and specialists across all 19 Hargrove offices. The team consists of panel builders, instrumentation designers, programmers, certified process safety engineers and process control engineers specializing in DCS/PLC/SIS system integration, IT/OT, Industry 4.0, and cybersecurity. Client satisfaction and project success earned the company placement as Control Engineering Magazine's 2022 System Integrator of the Year. For more information, visit Hargrove Controls & Automation's website and LinkedIn.

Founded in Mobile, Alabama in 1995, Hargrove Engineers & Constructors is a full-service EPC, automation, life sciences, and technical services firm whose success stems from building the most talented engineers and construction professionals while maintaining long-term client relationships. For more information about Hargrove, please visit hargrove-epc.com.