Developing a risk management standard - the Australian experience

摘要

Where are the Risk Management practitioners to be found in the ongoing debate on corporate governance and standards? Largely absent, is the sad conclusion if the results of the recent International Workshop organised by the European Commission, Directorate General Joint Research Centre (DG JRC), Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS), held at Stresa and Ispra, Italy, 22-25 May 2000 are any indication. The summary paper of the Workshop (see this special issue of the Safety Science magazine) is interesting in that it sets out very clearly the challenge confronting industry and commerce, both public and private, with respect to developing an internationally accepted generic 'standard' for risk-based decision making. The incidents referred to in the "Background. Technological Risks and Benefits" section of this summary paper clearly make the case for a process that will systematically identify, analyse, evaluate and treat all types of risk. It then quite correctly identifies that risk is an integral part of progress and must be effectively managed in order that society can reap the benefits. It was particularly pleasing to see that the fact that good Risk Management significantly supports consistent decision-making, and enhanced public understanding, was clearly identified.