We have recently heard the phrase “inherent safety” used by OSHA and EPA as both agencies work at revising/updating their process safety standards. But what exactly is “inherent safety,” and why is it at the top of the Hierarchy of Controls for process safety?
Inherently safer practices are an approach to designing safer chemical plants, chemical processes, and storage facilities with clear potential benefits related to safety, health, and the environment. The following are strategies for achieving an inherently safer plant: