Inherently Safer Technology Implementation -Risk Reduction and Risk Shifting

On March 25, 2008 the State of New Jersey adopted rules requiring facilities regulated under the Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act (TCPA) Program to perform Inherently Safer Technology (IST) reviews. By January 2010, 85 facilities performed IST reviews and submitted their findings to the New Jersey Department of Environmental protection.Although the rules did not require implementation of any IST measures, 41 facilities chose to implement some IST measures. A total of 143 IST measures were implemented. Two facilities eliminated the use of the hazardous substance that subjected them to the TCPA program. This paper will analyze the overall risk reduction that resulted from the implementation of the IST measures including an evaluation of the risk reduction to the surrounding community and the potential for shifting the risks to another location.