Which of the following best describes the role of protective equipment in inherently safer design?

The role of protective equipment in inherently safer design is best captured by understanding how inherently safer design principles focus on eliminating or minimizing hazards at their source rather than relying on protective measures as the primary means of risk reduction. The essence of inherently safer design is to create processes and systems that naturally avoid hazards through thoughtful design choices.

When designing systems, the ideal scenario is to avoid hazards through strategies such as substitution (using less hazardous materials), moderation (reducing the quantities of hazardous materials), or simplification (designing processes that are less complex). In this framework, hazards should always be designed out rather than just managed with protective equipment. This approach is what distinguishes inherently safer design: it emphasizes systems that do not require additional layers of protection by making them inherently less dangerous.

While protective equipment can play a role in overall safety, it is seen as a secondary measure that should not be relied upon as the first line of defense. The best design practices strive to integrate safety into the process rather than depending on protective measures to mitigate hazards after they occur.