Review on the Inherently Safer Design for chemical processes: Past, present and future

Since the inception of inherent safety in the 1970s, impressive progress has been made in using it to shape Friendlier Chemical Processes (FCP) which are largely characterized by proactive and simultaneous augmentation in safety, health, environment, and economic performance. However, a comprehensive survey on its temporal accomplishments over the past four decades is yet to be presented. Especially, the methodologies, typical implementation frameworks, and selection guidelines for the numerous Inherent Safety Metrics (ISMs) remain to be further elucidated. In this context, this work investigates the development spectrum of inherent safety with a primary focus on the ISMs in chemical processes. Firstly, the basic cognition for inherent safety is encapsulated from its origin, early development, principles, implementation stages, and benefits. Subsequently, its current practice for creating FCP is highlighted via synthesizing the implementation spectrum of Inherently Safer Design (ISD), ISMs and selection guidelines, and cost metrics. Meanwhile, the prominent industrial applications in the offshore industry, nuclear industry, dust explosion prevention, and risk-based safety interventions are also presented. Finally, some findings based future research recommendations are concluded as the way forward. In general, this work presents a complete picture of the most concerning contents of inherent safety, which is expected to help researchers and practitioners majoring in chemical process safety to gain a better and faster understanding on its concept and efficacy for shaping FCP.