Transcript Document
EM530 – Unit 8 March 25, 2012 Welcome! Administrative Issues • To get credit for missed audio seminars, please listen to the archive lesson, write a 1-2 paper on the presentation, answer the questions posed by myself in the class and then email me this document. • To get credit for missing DB work, if you lost points because you did not respond to your classmates – respond to 5 of them now, let me know and I’ll regrade. • To get credit for late papers, turn them in to me!! • Anything else? If not, let’s move onto Risk Communication which is part of the science of risk assessment and the process of risk management; the third leg of a triad if you will. Risk Communication - Overview • Generally, risk communication is associated with those who work in the environment, safety or health fields. • Risk communication is a two-way process between the person delivering the message and the person receiving the information. – Book breaks it down into 3 subheadings: care, consensus and crisis communication • Care = communication about risks which is scientifically proven and generally accepted by the audience. No return on investment other than betterment of life. • Consensus = communication to inform and encourage groups to work together to reach a decision about how the risk will be managed. • Crisis = communication in the case of extreme or immediate danger. Approaches to Communicating Risk (Chapter 2) • 13 different models presented as a way to communicate risk – Mental noise approach • When people perceive they are at risk, their ability to hear and process information decrease dramatically – Social amplification approach • News media has been credited with amplifying risk outcomes • When experts refuse to provide information, a hungry public will fill the void, often with rumor, supposition, and less-than-scientific theories – Evolutionary theory approach • Six categories of risk humans routinely face: disease, paternity, accidents, intergroup competition (war), subsistence failure and cooperation failure. • People trade risks around these areas Principles of Risk Characterization (Chapter 6) • Two standard principles: (1) audience must find the communicating organization credible and trustworthy and (2) the audience must be allowed to participate in the risk management decision. • Principles of Process: – Know your communication limits and purpose – Whenever possible, pretest your message – Communicate early, often and fully; Remember that perception is reality • Principles of Presentation: – Know your audience! – Do not limit yourself to one form or one method – Simplify language and presentation, not content; Be objective, not subjective; Communicate honestly, clearly, and compassionately; Listen and deal with specific concerns; Convey the same information to all segments of your audience; Deal with uncertainty • Principles for Comparing Risks – Use analogies, but do not trivialize; use ranges; compare to standards; compare to other estimates of the same risk; compare traits; do not compare risks with different levels of associated outrage; explain reductions in magnitude Factors Influencing Risk-Perception (Fischhoff et al, 1981) • • • • • • • • • • People's perceptions of the magnitude of risk are influenced by factors other than numerical data. Risks perceived to be voluntary are more accepted than risks perceived to be imposed. Risks perceived to be under an individual's control are more accepted than risks perceived to be controlled by others. Risks perceived to be have clear benefits are more accepted than risks perceived to have little or no benefit. Risks perceived to be fairly distributed are more accepted than risks perceived to be unfairly distributed. Risks perceived to be natural are more accepted than risks perceived to be manmade. Risks perceived to be statistical are more accepted than risks perceived to be catastrophic. Risks perceived to be generated by a trusted source are more accepted than risks perceived to be generated by an untrusted source. Risks perceived to be familiar are more accepted than risks perceived to be exotic. Risks perceived to affect adults are more accepted than risks perceived to affect children. What risk communication approach would you use for this tent-living scenario and why? CAP Risk Communication Applied • Public health concerns, i.e. spread of the common cold, flu – Sleep head-to-toe in your cots – Keep food out of tents to prevent a visit from the Camelback spider, scorpion, snakes, and other unwanted vermin • This action prevents bites (some very painful and poisonous!) from occurring – Drink lots of water to prevent heat stress/dehydration • Spraying of pesticides outside the tent wall to prevent insecticides/pests from entering • Communication done upon arrival in the deployed area, mandatory visit to public health to ensure immunizations are upto-date, signs posted on tent flaps, daily bulletins reminding troops of issues, daily epi briefings to all supervisors (due to continual shifting of troops around the theatre) • Sleep-loss issues due to 24/7 work environment What risk communication approach for turned-in weapons/armament and why? CAP Risk Communication Applied • • • • Remote storage area Inventory of all items to make sure nothing “walked” Signs posted warning of the hazards Radiation levels measured/swipe samples taken to ensure no contamination of that nature • Discussion of possible biological contamination; ruled out because of ambient heat levels in the desert • Discussion of possible chemical contamination; random testing accomplished to rule out this concern (also no population reporting illnesses of this nature) • Explosive Ordnance Demolition (EOD) experts only allowed in this area; escorted to visiting personnel to ensure safety Risk communication approach for this electroplating bath process and why? CAP Risk Communication Applied • Air sampling accomplished and validated over several years, so a trend analysis was available to educate the workers • Notification to appropriate personnel if the workers here changed the process (requires a new evaluation) • Hazardous communication training – mandatory annual requirement for industrial work areas • Personal protective equipment issues as necessary • Occupational health examinations required if determined there was a continued over-exposure. Risk communication approach for this expired missile detonation and why? CAP Risk Communication Approach • Air permit required by state • Groundwater monitoring recommended, but not required for this particular day • “No-fly” zone issued by local airports for an hour up to detonation and one hour afterwards • Hearing/eye protection for spectators/workers Unit 8 Summary • Attempted to show the value of good risk communication which takes a risky situation, with both known and unknown health/ecological hazards, and educates the exposed population to ways to protect themselves as well as the environment. • Sidenote – 10 Best environmental documentaries of 2009: http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/photos/top-10environmental-documentaries-of-2009. • Any questions/concerns? I’ll stay online after this audio just in case... • As always, thank you and have a good week! • “See” you on April 1, 2012 – our last audio seminar next week everyone! You’re almost there!