Hazard Identification, consequence evaluation, risk mitigation analysis, and management of effective safeguards are key to effective safety risk management. The oil and gas industry, in its quest to achieve safer operations, has developed several risk assessment techniques that prescribe the addition of safeguards, usually safety systems, as the primary means to mitigate risk. This has led to complexity and not necessarily safer facilities as evidenced by a trail of high profile process safety incidents. High profile incidents with associated asset losses, increased public concern on safety issues and changes to regulatory expectations have driven the industry to consider inherently safer design (ISD) options. Chevron, on its journey to achieve world class operations, has adopted and deployed ISD principles during the execution of major capital projects (MCPs). As early as the alternatives generation stage of a MCP, projects rigorously evaluate options that allow for a more simple, safer, fit-for-purpose and cost-effective facility design. This presentation is based on the systematic application of ISD principles in Gulf of Mexico (GOM) MCPs. It will share examples of how ISD was applied and how it evolved through the various phases of MCPs. The benefits of ISD application including reduction in the potential for human error and CAPEX and/or OPEX cost reduction by right-sizing safeguards will be discussed. Several examples will be provided where the typical design solution involved add-on safety features and how alternative ISD solutions were successfully applied. The presentation will share insights into the implementation of systems and processes to deliver a cohesive project strategy, challenges, trade-offs associated with implementation of ISD and best practices to drive disciplined ISD application for successful execution.