Engineering Risk and the Legal Consequences

摘要

This article is concerned with examining some key issues of a risk comparison approach to safety levels and legal liability for negligence with special reference to the operation of a transmission and distribution system. We accept that the quantification of risk in some form is essential to the efficient use of resources. The question posed is, does the risk coincide with the values and choices that a community, through the courts, would consider appropriate where negligence and liability for injury are involved. Issues of engineering risk, cost-benefit and limited resources as they impinge on a "reasonable standard of care" are discussed by first reviewing the question as to "what is risk"? And then, how "safe is safe enough" set in the context of overhead line clearances.