Public Safety and Risk Assessment: Improving Decision Making

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 saves 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 (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. Additional ISBNs1849713804, 1315870347, 1849713812, 9781849713801, 9781315870342, 9781849713818Public Safety and Risk Assessment: Improving Decision Making 1st Edition is written by David J. Ball; Laurence Ball-King and published by Routledge. ISBNs for Public Safety and Risk Assessment are 9781317972402, 1317972406 and the print ISBNs are 9781849713801, 1849713804. Additional ISBNs include 1849713804, 1315870347, 1849713812, 9781849713801, 9781315870342, 9781849713818.