What should be evaluated to see if it can be eliminated or modified during Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs)?

The selection of safety devices or procedures for evaluation during Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs) is crucial because this process focuses on identifying and mitigating risks associated with hazardous processes. The objective is to enhance safety by determining whether existing safety measures are sufficient or if they can be improved or even eliminated.

Inherently safer design principles advocate for reducing the potential for accidents outright rather than managing risks after they occur. By examining safety devices or procedures, teams can analyze whether certain devices can be removed if safer alternatives are available, or if procedures can be modified to reduce reliance on these devices. This proactive approach can significantly diminish the hazard associated with the process rather than merely protecting against it.

Evaluating the other options is also important, but they do not directly contribute to the core goal of inherently safer design in the same way. For instance, while inventory levels of hazardous materials can have safety implications, the focus of PHAs is more about the direct management and mitigation of hazards rather than just quantity. Regulatory compliance measures are essential for safety but are typically seen as minimum requirements, rather than inherently safer design choices. Operational procedures, although important, generally fall under the broader category of risk management, where the focus may not align specifically with eliminating hazards upfront. Thus, focusing