Quantitative Risk Assessment

Quantitative risk assessments cannot eliminate risk, nor can they resolve trade-offs. They can, however, guide principled risk management and reduction - if the quality of assessment is high and decision makers understand how to use it. This book builds a unifying scientific framework for discussing and evaluating the quality of risk assessments and whether they are fit for purpose. Uncertainty is a central topic. In practice, uncertainties about inputs are rarely reflected in assessments, with the result that many safety measures are considered unjustified. Other topics include the meaning of a probability, the use of probability models, the use of Bayesian ideas and techniques, and the use of risk assessment in a practical decision-making context. Written for professionals, as well as graduate students and researchers, the book assumes basic probability, statistics and risk assessment methods. Examples make concepts concrete, and three extended case studies show the scientific framework in action. '... a timely topic, and a very interesting book ... It is very detailed and academically rigorous ...' Charles K. Davis, Reviews.com 'The book provides a scientific framework apt to evaluate the quality of risk assessments and in particular their flexibility to specifically required purposes ... The book gives useful tools for graduate students and researchers as well for professionals.' Zentralblatt MATHPreface; 1. Introduction to risk management and risk assessments. Challenges; 2. Concepts and perspectives on risk; 3. Science and scientific requirements; 4. Introduction to case studies; 5. Risk assessment when the objective is accurate risk estimation; 6. Risk assessment when the objective is uncertainty descriptions; 7. Risk management and communication issues; 8. Towards a holistic approach to risk assessments; 9. Conclusions; Appendix A. Introduction to probability theory and statistical analysis; Appendix B. Terminology; References; Index.