ENVH9704 Risk Assessment and Management

This topic provides a general introduction to the concepts of human health risk assessment and management. It includes examples of current relevance to all those interested in providing and maintaining healthy environments including assessing and managing risks associated with water quality, food safety, air quality and contaminated sites. Sessions will also include real-life scenarios and a step-wise approach to issues involved in carrying out real risk assessments from experts. Students are encouraged to try out what they have heard in a choice of group projects to cover issues of relevance to everyone attending. Issues covered may include ensuring food safety, managing air emissions and quality, global climate change, vector borne disease and microbial and chemical contamination of water supplies.

This topic aims to:

• Explore the theoretical 'risk framework' and its relevance to public and environmental health
• Provide an understanding of health risk assessment as a tool in public health
• Discuss the nexus between risk assessment and risk management
• Provide students with an opportunity to gain practical insight into the process of risk assessment and management through group work

1. Describe the process of risk assessment with due regard to its complexities and uncertainties
2. Explain potential interactions in risk management decision making and the place of risk assessment in this process