On the social acceptability of inherently safe technologies

摘要

Some techniques have encountered public opposition which has delayed their implementation or even blocked it completely. Inherently safer technologies are a good idea and can certainly improve safety, but research on public perceptions of hazardous technologies suggest that safety is only loosely coupled to social acceptability. It is concluded that the notion of inherent safety does not necessarily make technologies more acceptable. It is proposed that the inherent safety concept should be extended to embrace procedural and institutional innovations that involve lay and expert groups in decision-making and improved communications between technical experts and lay people.