The use of risk assessment for setting priorities for risk management is often viewed as a mechanical process, without opportunity for public input, that often fails to give due consideration to affected stakeholders. To be effective and useful, the process must be credible to the stakeholder and the general public.

The underlying concept for the involvement of stakeholders is that both processes of expert assessment and stakeholder involvement must run, in part, independently of each other, but must also be "brought together" at specified intervals to engage in the search for a consensus position. Neither process should be constrained by what is happening in the other in the early stages; gradually, however, the effort is made to synthesize the two into a joint outcome. At the conceptual level, the point in time when this synthesis might occur cannot be predicted in advance.

Stakeholder involvement in risk management occurs at scheduled times in the form of specific events such as seminars or workshops. Information is transferred both to and from the stakeholders. Their concerns and priorities are sought for integration into the risk/benefit assessment. These events gradually move to the consideration of specific risk management options. Each interaction between the two groups keeps both processes flowing in a parallel direction.


Outcome

The final outcome of the stakeholder involvement could range from a minimum outcome of achieving broad public familiarity with the issues and options, to a maximum outcome of an agreement on an economically cost effective and technically feasible risk management option that achieves broad public support.

Services that we offer include:

• preparation of public consultation materials;
• liaising with regulatory authorities;
• meeting with local residents and other stakeholders;
• discussion of technical issues and public concerns with stakeholders; and
• negotiation with stakeholders to arrive at a consensus on issues.