3. Reduce hazard potential by choosing appropriate measures

The first step is to identify the security functions that can be applied to your site. These are expressed by an action verb followed by an intention to be accomplished. Five action verbs cover all the safety functions that need to be performed to control accident risks.

• Prevent: to make an event impossible. This function generally refers to in-depth modifications to installations. It is related to the concept of intrinsically safer processes.

• Avoidance: the aim is to limit the probability of an event occurring, without however being able to make it impossible.

• Detect: this involves detecting an event. This function alone is generally insufficient to ensure accident control, and must be combined with other functions such as control or limitation.

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