It's a fundamental goal:

* Safety is paramount: In any technical design, minimizing risk to human health and the environment is a primary goal. This includes selecting safe chemicals and materials.

* Regulations and standards: There are strict regulations and industry standards governing the use of chemicals and materials in various fields (e.g., construction, manufacturing, electronics). These regulations are in place to ensure safety.

* Ethical considerations: Using safe materials is an ethical responsibility to prevent harm to workers, consumers, and the environment.

However, there are complexities:

* "Safe" is relative: No material is perfectly safe. Risk is always present. Safety considerations involve minimizing the likelihood and severity of harm.

* Context is crucial: What's safe in one application might not be in another. For example, a solvent used in a lab might be unsafe for consumer products.

* Trade-offs and compromises: Sometimes, performance requirements necessitate using materials that have some safety concerns. In these cases, rigorous risk assessment and mitigation strategies are essential.

* Emerging technologies: New materials and chemicals are constantly being developed. Thorough testing and evaluation are needed to ensure they are safe for intended uses.

In summary:

While striving for safety is paramount in technical design, it's not a simple "yes or no" question. It involves ongoing evaluation, risk management, and the careful selection of materials and chemicals based on specific applications and their associated risks.