Bridging the gap between experts & stakeholders - OSHwiki | European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

This article belongs to the independent, peer reviewed scientific journal “Safety Science Monitor”. Please note that it is neither reviewed nor updated and does not necessarily reflect the views of EU-OSHA.

Introduction

Because risk can not be perceived directly, risk communication becomes highly significant. Studies on risk perception show that experts and lay persons differ in their concepts of risk. Experts use a two dimensional concept: probability times severity of harm, lay persons have a multi-dimensional concept of risks taking characteristics of consequences and situations into account (Fischhoff et al., 1981; Jungermann, 1991; Wiedemann, 1992). The accelerating development of technologies and their inherent risks and hazards leads to an increasing importance of adequate communication. Over the last thirty years changes in the way of communicating risk can be observed.

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Author

BABETTE FAHLBRUCH

Research Center System Safety, Berlin University of Technolgy, Institute of Psychology and Ergonomics, Germany

BERNARD WILPERT

ANDREW W EVANS

Professor of Transport Safety, Centre for Transport Studies, University College, London, UK

RH TAYLOR

Head of Policy and Stategy, BNFL

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