Since the publication of the second edition several United States
jurisdictions have mandated consideration of inherently safer design for
certain facilities. Notable examples are the inherently safer technology
(IST) review requirement in the New Jersey Toxic Chemical Prevention Act
(TCPA), and the Inherently Safer Systems Analysis (ISSA) required by the
Contra Costa County (California) Industrial Safety Ordinance. More
recently, similar requirements have been proposed at the U.S. Federal
level in the pending EPA Risk Management Plan (RMP) revisions. Since the
concept of inherently safer design applies globally, with its origins in
the United Kingdom, the book will apply globally.
The new edition builds on the same philosophy as the first two editions,
but further clarifies the concept with recent research, practitioner
observations, added examples and industry methods, and discussions of
security and regulatory issues. Inherently Safer Chemical Processes
presents a holistic approach to making the development, manufacture, and
use of chemicals safer. The main goal of this book is to help guide the
future state of chemical process evolution by illustrating and
emphasizing the merits of integrating inherently safer design
process-related research, development, and design into a comprehensive
process that balances safety, capital, and environmental concerns
throughout the life cycle of the process.
It discusses strategies of how to: substitute more benign chemicals at
the development stage, minimize risk in the transportation of chemicals,
use safer processing methods at the manufacturing stage, and
decommission a manufacturing plant so that what is left behind does not
endanger the public or environment.
