Which of the following is a common method for preventing chemical incidents?

Conducting thorough risk assessments before making any changes is a fundamental method for preventing chemical incidents. This proactive approach involves identifying potential hazards, evaluating the risks associated with those hazards, and determining necessary controls to mitigate them. By analyzing how changes—whether in operations, equipment, or processes—may introduce new risks, organizations can take preventive measures to ensure safety before problems occur.

Risk assessments facilitate the identification of weaknesses and the implementation of appropriate safety measures, which is essential in maintaining a safe working environment. This preparation is particularly important in environments where chemical processes can pose significant hazards if not managed correctly.

In contrast, other methods mentioned are either insufficient or potentially dangerous. For instance, limiting safety inspections to once a year reduces the opportunity to identify and mitigate hazards promptly. Allowing employees to bypass safety policies undermines safety protocols and increases the risk of incidents. Relying solely on past incident rates ignores changes in processes or operational environments that could lead to different outcomes. Therefore, the focus on thorough risk assessments plays a critical role in creating a robust safety culture and ensuring chemical process safety.