Safety network for devices in intermittent use

A method of operating a safety network for supporting one or more devices in intermittent use, the method comprising:

• repeatedly assessing the integrity of the safety network;
• repeatedly monitoring a plurality of safety sensors to detect safety events;
• responding to any detected safety events using a plurality of safety actuators and in accordance with safety rules;
• and
• making the safety network available for verification and/or validation as a safety loop,
• the method characterized by
• maintaining a virtual representation of an associated one of said devices in intermittent use, the virtual representation including at least one virtual safety sensor and/or at least one virtual safety actuator;
• making the virtual representation available for said integrity assessment and monitoring;
• and
• performing wireless data synchronization between the virtual representation and the associated device,
• wherein the virtual representation further includes an at least two-valued activation indicator (IsConcerned), which determines a safety rule for said monitoring and/or said data synchronization.

A safety representative implemented in a safety network for supporting one or more devices in intermittent use,

• the safety representative comprising:
• a virtual representation of an associated one of said devices in intermittent use, the virtual representation including at least one virtual safety sensor and/or virtual safety actuator,
• the virtual representation available for integrity assessment and monitoring by a safety controller of the safety network, and
• wireless data synchronization between the virtual representation and the associated device,
• wherein the safety representative is further configured to maintain, in the virtual representation, and at least two-valued activation indicator (IsConcerned), which determines a safety rule the for the safety representative's data synchronization.