To reduce risk due to dangerous chemicals a process-based method has been developed.

The method includes:

Listing chemical products; obtaining information on composition; developing data sheets; describing the processes; assessing the risk; and providing possibilities for substitution.

In a substitution, the chemicals in the final situation should be potentially less dangerous than in the initial situation.

The method has been applied to metal degreasing, manually and by vapor degreasing, dipping, lye-boiling, high pressure hosing and electrodegreasing.

The main strategy is to substitute from the use of organic solvents to aqueous alkaline solutions.