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Book Cover
Book
Author Ball, D. J. (David John)

Title Public safety and risk assessment : improving decision making / David J Ball and Laurence Ball-King
Published Washington, DC : Earthscan, 2011

Copies

Location Call no. Vol. Availability
 W'PONDS  363.1070941 Bal/Psa  AVAILABLE
Description xvi, 204 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Contents Clear and foreseeable danger -- Risk assessment-a simple tool? -- Is safety paramount? -- Risk and safety-a national philosophy -- What works in public life? -- Legal matters -- Advice-whose advice? -- A closer look at decision making -- Adventure activities-a hard case -- Risk-benefit assessment -- In search of a new agenda -- Final thoughts and resume
Summary 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 save 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. 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
Notes Contents: Clear and foreseeable danger -- Risk assessment-a simple tool? -- Is safety paramount? -- Risk and safety-a national philosophy -- What works in public life? -- Legal matters -- Advice-whose advice? -- A closer look at decision making -- Adventure activities-a hard case -- Risk-benefit assessment -- In search of a new agenda -- Final thoughts and resume
Includes bibliographical references and index
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
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 save 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?
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Subject Decision making -- Great Britain.
Public safety -- Great Britain.
Risk assessment -- Government policy -- Great Britain.
Author Ball-King, Laurence.
LC no. 2011008846
ISBN 9781849713801 (hardback)
9781849713818 (paperback)