Inherently safer approach

These hazards cannot be changed—they are basic properties of the materials and the conditions of usage. The inherently safer approach is to reduce the hazard by reducing the quantity of hazardous material or energy, or by completely eliminating the hazardous agent. 

For these reasons, the inherently safer approach should be an essential aspect of any safety program. If the hazards can be eliminated or reduced, the extensive layers of protection to control those hazards will not be required. 

Inherently safer approaches to dust explosion hazard control include inerting and building equipment strong enough to contain an explosion. 

Mansfield, D. P. (1994). Inherently Safer Approaches to Plant Design. Warrington, Cheshire, U. K. United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. 

The essence of the inherently safer approach to plant design is the avoidance of hazards rather than their control by added-on protective equipment (Kletz 1998). It particularly emphasizes eliminating large inventories of hazardous materials where feasible. 

Procedural controls, process controls, 98-99 Process controls, 96-100 active controls, 98 inherently safer approach, 97 mitigation techniques, 99 passive controls, 97-98 procedural controls, 98-99 safe operating limits, 99-100 Process definition, documentation, 102-104 Process design, documentation, 105 Process hazard analysis (PHA) risk assessment, 92-93 screening methods, 63 Process risk management decisions, documentation, 105-106... 

This chapter provides the fundamentals of design for passive and active fire protection systems. A passive system should be used wherever possible, as this is an inherently safer approach than an active system. 

Although firms sometimes do anticipate accidents and try to avoid them, the expenditures for adequate prevention have not been, and are not likely to be, invested without the right incentives. To the extent that the firm knows that the costs of maintenance and the inflexibility of traditional safety approaches are greater than using more reliable, inherently safer approaches, the firm may respond by changing its technology. 

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