Environmental Risk Communication through Qualitative Risk Assessment

Environmental analysts are often hampered in communicating the risks of environmental contaminants due to the myriad of regulatory requirements that are applicable. The use of a qualitative, risk-based control banding strategy for assessment and control of potential environmental contaminants provid...

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Main Authors: Sabre J. Coleman, David M. Zalk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2014-06-01
Series:Toxics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/2/2/346
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author Sabre J. Coleman
David M. Zalk
author_facet Sabre J. Coleman
David M. Zalk
author_sort Sabre J. Coleman
collection DOAJ
description Environmental analysts are often hampered in communicating the risks of environmental contaminants due to the myriad of regulatory requirements that are applicable. The use of a qualitative, risk-based control banding strategy for assessment and control of potential environmental contaminants provides a standardized approach to improve risk communication. Presented is a model that provides an effective means for determining standardized responses and controls for common environmental issues based on the level of risk. The model is designed for integration within an occupational health and safety management system to provide a multidisciplinary environmental and occupational risk management approach. This environmental model, which utilizes multidisciplinary control banding strategies for delineating risk, complements the existing Risk Level Based Management System, a proven method in a highly regulated facility for occupational health and safety. A simplified environmental risk matrix is presented that is stratified over four risk levels. Examples of qualitative environmental control banding strategies are presented as they apply to United States regulations for construction, research activities, facility maintenance, and spill remediation that affect air, water, soil, and waste disposal. This approach offers a standardized risk communication language for multidisciplinary issues that will improve communications within and between environmental health and safety professionals, workers, and management.
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spelling doaj.art-8ea0a194549f419981dcfd66c9cbf4ff2022-12-21T23:05:00ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042014-06-012234636310.3390/toxics2020346toxics2020346Environmental Risk Communication through Qualitative Risk AssessmentSabre J. Coleman0David M. Zalk1Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, CA 94551, USALawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, CA 94551, USAEnvironmental analysts are often hampered in communicating the risks of environmental contaminants due to the myriad of regulatory requirements that are applicable. The use of a qualitative, risk-based control banding strategy for assessment and control of potential environmental contaminants provides a standardized approach to improve risk communication. Presented is a model that provides an effective means for determining standardized responses and controls for common environmental issues based on the level of risk. The model is designed for integration within an occupational health and safety management system to provide a multidisciplinary environmental and occupational risk management approach. This environmental model, which utilizes multidisciplinary control banding strategies for delineating risk, complements the existing Risk Level Based Management System, a proven method in a highly regulated facility for occupational health and safety. A simplified environmental risk matrix is presented that is stratified over four risk levels. Examples of qualitative environmental control banding strategies are presented as they apply to United States regulations for construction, research activities, facility maintenance, and spill remediation that affect air, water, soil, and waste disposal. This approach offers a standardized risk communication language for multidisciplinary issues that will improve communications within and between environmental health and safety professionals, workers, and management.http://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/2/2/346environmental risk assessmentrisk communicationcontrol bandingenvironmental analystenvironmental and occupational risk managementqualitative risk assessmentrisk level based management system
spellingShingle Sabre J. Coleman
David M. Zalk
Environmental Risk Communication through Qualitative Risk Assessment
Toxics
environmental risk assessment
risk communication
control banding
environmental analyst
environmental and occupational risk management
qualitative risk assessment
risk level based management system
title Environmental Risk Communication through Qualitative Risk Assessment
title_full Environmental Risk Communication through Qualitative Risk Assessment
title_fullStr Environmental Risk Communication through Qualitative Risk Assessment
title_full_unstemmed Environmental Risk Communication through Qualitative Risk Assessment
title_short Environmental Risk Communication through Qualitative Risk Assessment
title_sort environmental risk communication through qualitative risk assessment
topic environmental risk assessment
risk communication
control banding
environmental analyst
environmental and occupational risk management
qualitative risk assessment
risk level based management system
url http://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/2/2/346
work_keys_str_mv AT sabrejcoleman environmentalriskcommunicationthroughqualitativeriskassessment
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