HSE Press Release E181:02 - 27 September 2002

HSE investigates Linux for computer safety

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new research by CSE International Limited, a leading UK software consultancy, on how effectively the Linux operating system can be assessed for safety-related use.

Where a computer provides the protection or control in an industrial safety application, the computer's operating system is crucial. There is a growing trend to base safety systems on general purpose commercial operating systems such as Linux and Microsoft Windows rather than on operating systems developed specially for safety. Statutory regulators and other safety assessors need practical guidance in assessing the safety performance of commercial operating systems.

The report suggests a general assessment framework for assessing the safety integrity of operating systems, and more specifically considers the availability and quality of evidence on Linux characteristics and performance. A preliminary assessment concludes that Linux is potentially acceptable in many relatively undemanding safety applications.

The Linux investigation was a collaboration between three UK agencies: the Defence Procurement Agency of the Ministry of Defence; the Civil Aviation Authority; and the HSE.

A companion investigation by Praxis Critical Systems under contract to the Defence Procurement Agency reported on Microsoft Windows XP: 'Windows XP - Scoping Study for the Operating Systems - Integrity Evaluation of Windows'. This Windows XP study is also published on the HSE website. The findings of the two studies will be evaluated to decide how to proceed to further work.

This report and the work it describes were funded by the HSE. Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy.

Copies of 'Preliminary assessment of Linux for safety related systems' (RR 011), ISBN 0 7176 2538 9, price £15, are available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, tel: 01787 881165 or fax: 01787 313995. Priced publications are also available from good booksellers.

HSE's Research Reports are available on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/index.htm

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Published on the HSE web site on 30 September 2002