Citation

Gupta JP, Edwards DW. Process. Saf. Environ. Prot. 2002; 80(3): 115-125.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Institution of Chemical Engineers and European Federation of Chemical Engineering, Publisher Hemisphere Publishing)

DOI

10.1205/095758202317576210

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Inherently Safer Design (ISD) has evoked deep interest in the process industries since the 1990s. Two books and many articles have been written about it and a few specific conferences have been held on the topic. However, its adoption by industry appears to be less than expected. In order to increase its adoption by industry and to make ISD more user friendly, the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has funded a project at Loughborough University. As a first step, we desired to know the status of use of ISD in industry, its teaching and research in academies, and the role of the regulators in its adoption. We also wished to discover the reasons for slow adoption, obtain views on how to increase it and find out about successful applications. To do this, we carried out a survey amongst industrialists, academics and regulators. We enlisted the help of numerous research and trade journals, professional conferences and web sites. 63 completed responses were received from 11 countries representing a whole spectrum, from those who have only recently heard of ISD to those who have practised it successfully for over two decades. Several responders said that they will henceforth start to use ISD. Most were either not familiar with the indices developed for ISD or thought them too complicated. Amongst the reasons cited for limited adoption were: lack of case studies dealing with economic benefits; lack of a tried and tested yet simple methodology of application; lack of desire to change; lack of knowledge about ISD amongst research chemists, engineers, managers and regulators; no enforcing regulation; lack of specific research funds for academics in this area, etc. Tackling these will result in the spread of ISD. Suggestions are made towards achieving this end.