Which of the following appropriately describes a major goal of inherently safer design?

The major goal of inherently safer design is to reduce hazards and risks associated with processes. This approach emphasizes the importance of designing processes that minimize the potential for accidents and the severity of their consequences. Inherently safer design involves integrating safety into the design stage, thereby addressing hazards at their source rather than relying solely on protective measures such as personal protective equipment (PPE) or emergency response.

By prioritizing the elimination or reduction of hazards, inherently safer design not only enhances safety but can also lead to improvements in operational efficiency and overall reliability. This method fosters a proactive rather than reactive mindset regarding safety in engineering and process design, ensuring that safety is fundamentally embedded in the system.

Other choices do not align with the core objective of inherently safer design. For example, minimizing costs through the use of cheap materials could compromise safety and quality. Increasing output rates regardless of safety can lead to significant hazards and risks. Focusing solely on regulatory compliance is often viewed as a reactive approach, while inherently safer design aims to go beyond merely meeting regulations by actively seeking to eliminate risks in the design itself.