Costs Avoided with Safer Alternatives
Survey respondents identified a variety of costs and regulatory burdens that facilities fully or partly eliminated as a result of switching to less hazardous substances or processes. Avoided costs mentioned in survey responses include the following:

o Theft and theft prevention
o Personal protective equipment (such as gas masks)
o Safety devices (such as leak detection or scrubbers)
o Safety inspections
o Higher risk-group insurance premiums
o Potential liability
o Regulatory certifications, permits, and fees
o Compliance staff
o Certain chemical purchases
o Specialized emergency response teams
o Hazardous materials safety training
o Lost work time from chemical exposures
o Chemical damage to infrastructure
o Certain fire code requirements
o Certain physical security measures
o Unreliable chemical supply lines
o Placards and material safety data sheets
o Community notification
o Evacuation and contingency plans
o Background checks
o Compliance with OSHA Process Safety Management
o Compliance with EPA Risk Management Planning