Value Conflicts in Designing for Safety: Distinguishing Applications of Safe-by-Design and the Inherent Safety...

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Process Safety

Background:

• Safety is paramount in chemical processes.
• Inherent Safety Principles (ISPs) and Safe-by-Design (SbD) are key safety strategies.
• These approaches differ in their focus on add-on features versus initial design choices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare ISPs and SbD for suitability in fundamental versus applied research.
• To analyze the impact of internal value-conflicts and external lock-ins on safety measure implementation.
• To evaluate the role of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) in assessing technological maturity and lock-ins.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of ISPs and SbD.
• Case study application using miniaturized processes with Hydrogen Cyanide.
• Utilizing Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) to assess technology maturity and identify lock-ins.

Main Results:

• Both ISPs and SbD face internal value-conflicts and external lock-ins.
• ISPs are more effective for applied research due to their ability to address existing lock-ins with add-on safety measures.
• SbD is more suitable for fundamental research where lock-ins are less prevalent.

Conclusions:

• The choice between ISPs and SbD depends on the research stage and the presence of known or uncertain risks, not the specific field.
• ISPs are better suited for applied research dealing with established technologies and associated lock-ins.
• SbD is advantageous for fundamental research to embed safety from the outset, preventing future lock-ins.