The ERA with 3% contingency is perfectly legitimate and routine procedure for dispatch on the basis that if you run short of fuel and can't make your destination for whatever reason then you divert to the ERA with plenty of fuel remaining. Depending on the positioning of the ERA I have seen plans that would put you above max landing mass at the ERA and a burn off fuel is specified/calculated for you. How can that not be safe? Bear in mind also that this is merely a legal minimum, not the amount that you actually take.