Risk vs Hazard
For centuries, chemicals policies around the world have been based on reducing risk rather than hazard. Authorities have allowed production of potentially hazardous substances and tried to foresee all possible factors in order to reduce the probability of an accident instead of reducing the consequences.
The basis for risk assessment is the un-scientific belief that risk can be foreseen and controlled. In an infinitely complex system, such as chemicals, the risk is simply impossible to anticipate.
Imagine that you have been at a circus with your 6-year old daughter. She is enthusiastic about the acrobats who walked the tightrope 10 meters above ground and she wants to try it herself.
At home she convinces you to find a long wooden board that she can use for her practice. Would you put the board between two rooftops - high above the ground - or on a pair of bricks, only slightly above the grass? If you assess the probability, or risk, of her stumbling and falling off the board, it would be the same in both cases.
However, its quite obvious that the consequence, or hazard, if she falls off the board and hits the ground is much greater if the board is high above the ground. She is likely to be severly injured.
On the other hand, falling off the board only a few decimeters above the ground would be less hazardous.
By putting the board on the bricks you can eliminate the hazard and your daughter is safe, no matter how high the risk is.
An experienced acrobat may have walked the tightrope thousands of times, and has been able to reduce the risk by practicing balance. Still, the hazard is unchanged. The consequences if he or she fell from the rope and hit the ground would be severe.
Fortunately, a person
who walks the tightrope is only risking his or her own health. Chemicals
policies relying on risk assessments are risking the health of everyone.
A hazardous substance is dangerous whatever a risk assessment says.
Therefore, chemicals policies need to change perspective. Hazard needs to be the deciding criteria for evaluating chemical substances.
Recommended Reports
Principles for a toxic free environment (pdf)
The Precautionary Principle:
A common sense way to protect our health and environment
