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Fundamentals of Risk Analysis and Risk Management
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Preface
The idea for this book started as a consequence of my directing and teaching a
one-day course on “Fundamentals of Risk Analysis” at the annual meetings of the
Society for Risk Analysis (1991, 1992, and 1994). Also, teaching a course at the
United Nations Division for Sustainable Development, New York, on “Use of Risk
Analysis in Sustainable Development”, and teaching a course on “Environmental
Risk Assessment and Management” at the University of São Paulo and University
of Mato Grosso, Cuiába, Brazil, made me aware of the need for a reference that I
could give to students to get a comprehensive overview of the field and lead them
to valuable references if they wanted to increase their knowledge in specific aspects
of risk analysis. Moreover, my position as Secretary of the Society for Risk Analysis
(from 1989–1994) convinced me that there is a great need for integrating the rapidly
expanding field of risk analysis and risk management, and for providing a common
language for all the practitioners and members of this varied interdisciplinary professional
group.
The last few years have witnessed the concepts of risk analysis and risk management
permeating public discussion, often confusing decision makers and the
public. When Lewis Publishers called me in 1995, after having seen the title of the
course I taught at the SRA Annual Meeting in December 1994, and asked me to
write a book on the subject of risk analysis and risk managment, I decided that the
need for such a book was overwhelming, and that providing such a book would be
a worthwhile project. Since no single person could accomplish such a monumental
task of integrating the diverse fields of risk analysis and risk management, I asked
my colleagues to help me write the chapters for which they were recognized experts
in their particular practice of risk analysis and risk management. Most of them
graciously agreed, or gave up under my incessant prodding. Some of them cancelled
at the last moment, but I was fortunate to find new authors who were not intimidated
by the task. With the miracle of Internet, I was able to bring in several authors from
different parts of the world to help expand our understanding of how risk analysis
is practiced around the world.
After almost two years of work, we have completed the task of producing this
book of 26 chapters, in which we cover the fundamentals of what is known as risk
analysis and risk management in the contemporary western world. Most chapters
also provide a summary, questions and answers to be used as tools in teaching
courses in risk analysis. The glossary should also be helpful both to students and
practitioners of risk analysis. Finally, the index should make it easier to focus on a
particular area of the reader’s interest. The addresses of co-authors are given as an
easy access for those readers and students of risk analysis who may have some
questions. The E-mail addresses of some of the authors should be particularly useful
for further communication.
I want to thank all of the 20 co-authors who have graciously accepted the task
of making their chapters understandable to an educated general reader, while at the
same time providing references and in-depth discussion for those who want more
detailed understanding. My work and discussions with them were very enlightening
and fun. They have done an excellent job in educating me of the aspects of risk
© 1997 by CRC Press, Inc.
analysis of which I was not aware, and helping to deepen my understanding of
different applications of risk analysis. Also, I want to thank Brian Lewis, who asked
me to do this book before selling his company, Lewis Publishers, to CRC Press. My
thanks go to the professionals at CRC Press, who have been very helpful in explaining
the “nuts and bolts” of publishing and have been encouraging in finishing this
work. Finally, I want to thank my daughter, Yelena, and Ohio State Senator, Dennis
Kucinich for their review of some of my chapters and useful discussions and suggestions.
They brought to my attention broader implications of the topics in this
book of real life and political functioning in which risk analysis and risk management
have become household words, frequently used without ever being properly defined
and understood. Any mistakes found in this book are mine and unintentional, and I
would appreciate if the reader brings them to my attention.
We hope that this book will be a useful guide to all who want to improve their
knowledge in confronting dangers of living, and particularly to those who make
decisions that affect public safety and the general safety of this planet. The increased
awareness and application of risk analysis and risk management can improve our
understanding of the dangers that we face on our life journey and help us make
better choices.
Vlasta Molak
1-56670-130-9 (alk.
NONE
Management
English
1-451
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