Inherent Safety

Principles Considerations Keywords

1. AVOID  The chemistry of the ELIMINATE
processing or process –
using toxic,  Feeds SUBSTITUTE
flammable or  Intermediates
environmentally  Products Avoid
hazardous  By-products Combine
materials.  Impurities
 Processing aids –
 Heat transfer fluids
 Refrigerants
 Recycles
 Where the material is –
 Stock tanks
 In process
 In transport
2. REDUCE the As above plus: INTENSIFY
inventory of  Unit operations and Reduce the scale by
hazardous equipment making the process
materials.  Continuous rather than more effective
batch
 Possibility of faster reaction Combine
 Hazard density Reduce
 Spread over larger Divide
area
 Sub-divide
inventories

3. REDUCE the  Keep simple ATTENUATE

potential for  Avoid runaways, explosions
surprise. and detonations Simplify
 Moderate the operating Avoid
conditions Dilute
 Continuous rather than Reduce
batch process
 Dynamics –
 High inertia hazards
slow to develop
 Low inertia
deviations quickly
corrected
4. SEPARATE  Integrity of containment – SEPARATE
people from  Design strength
chemicals.  Joints Contain
 Seals Remove
 Moving parts Enclose
 Minimise corrosion and Reinforce
wear
 Operability and layout
 Remote control
 Beware vents and drains