Risk Assessment and Risk Management: Tools and Organisation

Abstract

The main topic of the paper by Carter and Riley concerns the U.K. manner of calculating societal risk (SR). It uses the individual risk as its basic figure. Therefore, the various approaches described still carry the shortcomings and pitfalls inherent to (individual risk) calculations for transportation cases. These have been listed in the cited transportation study (HSC 1991), which at present is one of the most professional and detailed pieces of work.. The most problematic shortcoming is the lack of reliable accident frequency rates for the transportation of dangerous goods. Among others, as the most significant comment it was stated in the HSC-report that only data could be retrieved for the transportation of chlorine, ammonia, LPG and motor spirits, for transportation modes road and rail. Thus, it should not be forgotten that any risk figure suffers from a great inaccuracy, and a bandwidth should be applied.