Framework for Environmental Health Risk Management - Dose-response Relationship - Case Study Example

Framework for Environmental Health Risk Management - Dose-response Relationship Risk is that uncertaintywhich could be estimated through taking measurement of key outcomes that have been identified overtime and these outcomes could be analyzed through probability distribution. Risk could also be looked at as an unwanted event that has the probability of occurring or not. Most risks when exposed to end up causing harm or maybe disastrous to those who are exposed. Exposure to risk could also be in terms of asset exposure or business exposure to various risk factors.

It is therefore; the possibility that such exposure to hazards might turn into a disaster when it happens that hazards and vulnerability get combined (Hallman & Wandersman, n.d.). Risk management is the process of systematic al and logical identifying, evaluating, analyzing, treating and subsequent monitoring of risks which a firm or project such as a waste-to-energy facility and a nuclear power plant is exposed to. Better risk management has a role of ensuring that risk exposures are reduced and when such risks do occur, their effects or impact would be minimal.

Risk management should be proactive in the sense that prevention of risk is better than cure. Involvement of various stakeholders within a risk management process of waste-to-energy facility and a nuclear power plant is of high necessity because of the aspect of ownership of the risk prevention strategies. Besides, when people know why certain measures are being taken, it is easier to implement risk management decisions because they know how they will be affected if such measures are not taken and the value attached to risk management decisions is well communicated to them.

Support of all stakeholders is a great milestone towards achievement of risk prevention strategies. Dose response assessment has the role of examining the relationship between the hazard’s dose and the subsequent adverse health impacts to human beings. It is known that the amount of dosage will determine whether the dose becomes poison or helps (Duffus, n.d). Risk assessment is able to provide feedback on measures to be taken to avert exposure to risk and could help the management of a nuclear energy program to decide exactly what to do to avert risk.

However, risk assessment might not provide absolute answers since the analysis is based on probability of occurrence. The fact that one is exposed to risk doesn’t necessarily mean there will be occurrence. For that reason, risk management simply works to decrease the probability of occurrence and if it occurs, that such effects may not be disastrous (Wigley & Shrader-Frechette, n.d). It is hard to gain zero risk however perfect a phenomenon is. It is therefore; hard to eliminate all the risks.

The best that could be done in a waste-to-energy facility and a nuclear power plant could be reduction of overall and specific risks to near zero. Risk management principles as envisaged in MoR are: knowing organizational context; having stakeholder involvement; organizational objectives; reporting such risks; knowing roles and responsibilities; implementing a supporting structure; having early warning indicators; review or risk measures; and continual improvement, among others. For this waste-to-energy facility and a nuclear power plant, the role of risk management framework is to ensure that the decisions made regarding averting and mitigating risk exposures are as effective as possible.

This is because the risks of such a plant should be brought to near zero since if they occur, effects could be very disastrous. The key stakeholders in this project are the public, government, energy providers, management, environmental authorities, and the funding organizations for the project. Their role is to ensure that the construction and subsequent running of the waste-to-energy facility and a nuclear power plant is not exposed to risk and that such identified risks are brought to near zero level through better management and risk prevention strategies.

An effective risk management framework is therefore very necessary (Fritzsche, n.d).ReferencesFritzsche Andrew F. (n.d) The Moral Dilemma in the Social Management of Risks. Franklin Pierce Law Center. Retrieved February 6, 2011from the Web at http://law.unh.edu/risk/vol7/fall/fritzsch.htmDuffus (nd). Dose-response and concentration-response relationships, Retrieved from the Web on February 06, 2011 at ww.ingenieroambiental.com/?pagina=1108 Hallman, William K. & Wandersman, Abraham H. (n.d.) Present Risk, Future Risk or No Risk?

Measuring and Predicting Perceptions of Health Risks of a Hazardous Waste Landfill Retrieved February 06, 2011 from the Web at http://www.piercelaw.edu/risk/vol6/summer/hallman.htmWigley, Daniel C.& Shrader-Frechette, Kristin S., (n.d) Environmental Racism and Biased Methods of Risk Assessment, Franklin Pierce Law Center. Retrieved February 06, 2011 from the Web at http://www.piercelaw.edu/risk/vol7/winter/wigley.htm