The nature of technological hazard

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Risk Assessment
• Sociology

Background:

• Conventional risk assessment often fails to capture the full scope of public concern regarding technological hazards.
• Existing methods may not adequately address the multifaceted nature of perceived risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a comprehensive hazard profile termed 'hazardousness'.
• To extend the conventional definition of risk assessment by incorporating broader descriptors.
• To assess the utility of hazardousness in reflecting public perception and guiding hazard management.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of technological hazards using quantitative physical, biological, and social descriptors.
• Construction of a hazard profile (hazardousness) extending beyond traditional risk definitions.
• Pilot experiments to test the perception and understanding of the hazardousness profile.

Main Results:

• The hazardousness profile was understood in pilot perception experiments.
• Hazardousness appeared to capture a significant portion of lay people's concerns about hazards.
• The profile suggests a structured method for prioritizing hazard management.

Conclusions:

• Hazardousness offers a more complete representation of public perception of technological risks.
• This extended risk profile provides an orderly framework for effective hazard management prioritization.
• The findings support the use of hazardousness in environmental policy and public communication regarding technological risks.