Title: Risk zoning and risk decision making

Authors: Henk Zandvoort

Addresses: Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5015, Delft 2600 GA, The Netherlands

Abstract: Two requirements for responsible and coherent decision making about and management of risk creating technological activities are presented and defended, called the requirement of informed consent and the requirement of strict liability. The requirements are necessary in order to assure that decisions regarding hazardous technology respect ethical principles and result in social progress. The requirements pose important challenges for operators and regulators of risk creating technological facilities such as Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). The following challenges are discussed: How can those subjected to risks be properly informed about the risks? How can credibility of risk assessments be assured? How can the consent be obtained of those subjected to the risks? Risk zoning and risk mapping are discussed as possible instruments for informing the public.

Keywords: ethics; informed consent; nuclear power plants; risk assessment; risk communication; risk decision making; risk management; risk mapping; social progress; strict liability; risk zoning; nuclear energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRAM.2008.016137

International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management, 2008 Vol.8 No.1/2, pp.3 - 18

Published online: 07 Dec 2007 *

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