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An Ontological Approach for Hazard Analysis Representation Aligned with IEC61508

Authors:

Thorvaldur Jochumsson, Kaj Hänninen, Kristina Lundqvist, Mehrdad Saadatmand

Note:

Accepted for publication in the JOWO 2026 proceedings

Publication Type:

Conference/Workshop Paper

Venue:

Proceedings of the Joint Ontology Workshops

Abstract

Safety-critical systems require continuous hazard analysis throughout their lifecycle. This requires establishing and maintaining an accurate representation of hazard knowledge based on safety terminology defined in relevant standards. Such representation becomes difficult when the terminology lacks conceptual clarity, giving rise to ambiguities, alternative interpretations, and inconsistencies.This paper presents an ontological approach to hazard-analysis representation based on applying conceptual safety and domain ontologies derived from safety standardisation to specify an application ontology and a corresponding knowledge base.The approach is demonstrated within the hydrogen domain through the development of an application ontology and a knowledge base representing hazard scenarios for a hydrogen energy facility. The evaluation assesses whether information required by selected IEC61508 requirements can be represented in the knowledge base and retrieved through querying.While the evaluation indicates that hazard knowledge associated with the selected IEC61508 requirements can be represented using the proposed ontological structure, the paper also discusses practical implications of the approach. These include how the conceptual ontologies are further specialised in the application ontology, the construction of a knowledge base through interpretation of a hazard analysis, and the role of abstract safety concepts in knowledge-base queries.

Bibtex

@inproceedings{Jochumsson7423,
author = {Thorvaldur Jochumsson and Kaj H{\"a}nninen and Kristina Lundqvist and Mehrdad Saadatmand},
title = {An Ontological Approach for Hazard Analysis Representation Aligned with IEC61508},
note = {Accepted for publication in the JOWO 2026 proceedings},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the Joint Ontology Workshops},
url = {http://www.es.mdu.se/publications/7423-}
}