Integrated approach for risk assessment and management in highly industrialized regions in a country

The recent history of catastrophic industrial accidents has dramatically underlined the need to identify, assess and manage risks from complex industrial activities to maximize safety and minimize detrimental occupational public health and environmental effects: The aim of this paper is to discuss and propose an integrated approach for risk assessment and management in highly industrialized regions in a country. To fulfill this goal it is also proposed to initiate a new international research effort based on regional (within a country) case studies which will establish a ''risk management procedure guide'' for making industrial safety decisions, utilizing the principle of optimal allocation of resources for risk reduction, taking into account the complex and multiple objectives of a decision making process related to environmental impacts, health and socio-economic effects. (author). 27 refs, 1 fig