Public Safety and Risk Assessment

Improving Decision Making
1. Auflage 2011
ISBN: 978-1-84971-380-1
Verlag: Routledge

Buch, Englisch, 224 Seiten, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 505 g

Reihe: Earthscan Risk in Society

This book aims to encourage a more reflective, multidisciplinary approach to public safety, and the 'reenfranchisement' of those affected by this new phenomenon. Over the past decade health and safety has become a major issue of public interest. There are countless stories of health and safety activities interfering with public life, preventing some beneficial activity from taking place – even creating absurd or dangerous situations. On the one hand, risk assessment, properly conducted, is highly beneficial – it saves lives and prevents injuries. But on the other, it can damage public life. Why has this come about, and does it have to be like that? The authors examine the origins of the problem, look critically at the tools used by safety assessors and their underlying assumptions, and consider important differences between public life and industry (where the approaches largely originated). They illuminate the whole with an analysis of legal requirements, attitudes of stakeholders, and recent research on risk perception and decision making. The result is a profound and important analysis of risk and safety culture and a framework for managing public safety more effectively.

Zielgruppe

Professional Practice & Development

Autoren/Hrsg.

Ball, David J.

Ball-King, Laurence

Fachgebiete

• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Medizin, Gesundheitswesen Public Health, Gesundheitsmanagement, Gesundheitsökonomie, Gesundheitspolitik
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Forschung und Information Risikobewertung, Risikotheorie
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Arbeit/Sozialpädagogik Soziale Dienste, Soziale Organisationen

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface 1. Clear and Foreseeable Danger 2. Risk Assessment - A Simple Tool? 3. Is Safety Paramount? 4. Risk and Safety - A National Philosophy 5. What Works in Public Life? 6. Legal Matters 7. Advice - Whose Advice? 8. A Closer Look at Decision Making 9. Adventure Activities - A Hard Case 10. Risk-benefit Assessment 11. In Search of a New Agenda 12. Final Thoughts and Résumé

Über Autor(innen)

David Ball is Professor of Risk Management and Director of the Centre for Decision Analysis & Risk Management at Middlesex University, UK. Previously he was Director of the Centre for Environmental and Risk Management at the University of East Anglia, and before that worked as a scientist in local and central government and the private sector in Britain and the USA. He is a regular consultant to government departments and regulators as well as international agencies.