Decision-making process contribution

Fig. 1 Different sources of hits typically provide different distributions of number of hit compounds and amount known (and relevant) about those compounds, each of which contributes to the decision making process of hit selection and hit triage...

These are some of the issues currently facing ns and that are being discnssed around the nation. Scientists and engineers can provide options and can contribute to a rational decision-making process helping to make onr nation safer for our residents. 

A wide range of stakeholders can contribute to the authorisation decision-making process by submitting comments to the European Chemicals Agency. Other than stating that substitution must be technically and economically feasible and reduce overall risks to human health and the environment, the text of REACH does not specify the details of how the authorisation process will work or what a substitution plan should contain such details have been left to the RIPs and the functioning of the Agency that must still be completed or formed, respectively. 

US EPA says equal access to decisions means (1) potentially affected community residents have an appropriate opportunity to participate in decisions about a proposed activity that will affect their environment and/or health (2) the public s contribution can influence the regulatory agency s decision (3) the concerns of all participants involved will be given serious consideration in the decision-making process and (4) the decision-makers will seek out and facilitate the involvement of those who will likely be affected. 

Water penetration rates are usually calculated according to the gas laws from measurement of pressure decay upstream of the filler over the whole period of testing with the gas (air) volume above the fluid held constant. They are therefore subject to temperature variations. Although the principle of the water penetration test is sound, and the avoidance of the use of potentially adulterating solvents is attractive, the low rates of water penetration calculable from only very small pressure drops within test systems have raised doubts about the robustness of the method for routine application in its contribution to the decision-making process. 

The role of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in the decision-making process in drug development and their contribution to the assessment of safety and efficacy of investigational new drugs have been well established. In this chapter, the role of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics is described in terms of current approaches to typical questions or problems, that is, what is done and why. The details of how it is done are constantly evolving and are beyond the scope of this chapter. 

Validation (i.e., the matching of the model with reality) in EIAs is not easy. Sometimes, the only apparent vahdation that can be achieved is the matching of future performance of the environmental system with the expectation from the model - a test which hardly meets the criteria of good science. Nor does it contribute to the decision-making process that seeks the assessment. Nevertheless, some confirmation of the appropriateness of the model can be obtained, as follows ... 

If we are to be successful, we must get the experts involved in changing dies. Who are the experts They are the people who are closest to the problems—the press operators, die setters, fork truck operators, schedulers, and tool room personnel. We need their participation to win acceptance from the people on the floor. Resisting change is a common reaction. If the people being affected by the change were able to contribute and be a part of the decision-making process, then resistance would be minimal. 

The results of aU such analyses are only a tool for use in the decision making process and do not provide the decision itself. There is still a major contribution from expert judgement. For example, an analysis may not be able to justify, on economic grounds, the provision of remote equipment to eliminate the need for personnel to enter areas with high radiation levels or contamination levels, but the decision may be taken to provide such equipment on social grounds. The level of sophistication with which these analyses are performed needs to reflect the magnitude of the dose that is under consideration. 

Employees who believe themselves to be an integral part of the decision-making processes at work feel motivated to safety standards and contribute in often quite unexpected ways that have a positive impact on safety standards. In contrast a workforce that feels disconnected with management and develops a feeling that their views are of little value can very easily adopt a cynical approach to safety which results in a massively negative impact on safety standards. 

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