Hazard Risk Management (essentials)-Handout

Handout

Pdf Summary

The OEM Essentials Assessment module on Hazard Risk Management, Assessment, and Communication, led by Dr. Beth Baker, MD, MPH, covers key occupational and environmental health aspects related to defining, assessing, managing, and communicating risk. The course objectives include understanding what constitutes health risk, the process of health hazard risk assessment, and principles of effective risk management and communication.<br /><br />Risk is defined as the combination of health hazard (toxin) and exposure (dose), influencing the probability and nature of adverse effects ranging from mild symptoms to death. The course details the steps of human health risk assessment: hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, risk characterization, risk communication, and risk management. Examples such as pesticide contamination at federal Superfund sites and train derailments illustrate real-world applications.<br /><br />Exposure assessment involves evaluating the toxicity, duration, frequency, and route of exposure, as well as individual susceptibilities and environmental factors. Risk characterization synthesizes data to guide decision-making by estimating the probability and severity of health effects, acknowledging uncertainties including data reliability and vulnerable populations.<br /><br />Risk management encompasses regulatory frameworks (e.g., EPA, Clean Water Act), remediation efforts, and determining acceptable risk levels, guided by the precautionary principle to prevent exposures. Emergency case studies such as the East Palestine and Minot train derailments highlight challenges in hazard response, emergency communication, stakeholder involvement, and community impact.<br /><br />Effective risk communication requires a team approach, transparency, empathy, and clear messaging to build trust among stakeholders, avoiding paralysis by analysis. Communication strategies evolve through pre-crisis planning, initial emergency response, maintenance, resolution, and evaluation phases.<br /><br />The module provides numerous resources, including OSHA guidelines, WHO risk assessment toolkits, and CDC Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) materials, supporting best practices in occupational and environmental hazard risk management and communication.

Keywords

Hazard Risk Management

Health Risk Assessment

Risk Communication

Occupational Health

Environmental Health

Exposure Assessment

Risk Characterization

Risk Management

Emergency Response

Precautionary Principle