RISK REDUCTION STRATEGIES

The process by which the results of a risk analysis (i.e., risk estimates) are used to make decisions, either through relative ranking of risk-reduction strategies or through comparison with risk targets... 

Historically, risk reduction strategies have been focused on the exposure side of the risk equation and in many cases have been very successful. However, there are inherent flaws in focusing primarily on controlling exposure that will be identified here. 

Chlebowski RT, Collyar DE, Somerfield MR et al. (1999) American Society of Clinical Oncology technology assessment on breast cancer risk reduction strategies tamoxifen and raloxifene. J Clin Oncol 17 1939-1955... 

The QRA method is designed to provide managers with a tool to help them evaluate the overall risk of a process. QRAs are used to evaluate potential risks when qualitative methods cannot provide an adequate understanding of the risks. QRA is especially effective for evaluating alternative risk reduction strategies. 

The informative SNPs could be tested prospectively through the surveillance network, and decreases in rate could be confirmed. If confirmed, the tests would be rapidly approved and implemented as part of the risk-reduction strategy for the marketed drug. 

A risk reduction strategy for perfluorooctanyl sulphonate (PFOS) and related compounds commissioned by the Environment Department (DEFRA) recommends a ban on the use of the compounds. Only a handful of sectors would receive derogations, and these would be conditional on the development of alternatives and the disposal of all PFOS-bearing wastes by high temperature incineration. 

Under the Existing Substances Regulation, which was passed in 1993, individual member states are allocated substances for which they are responsible for the risk assessment. To date, three priority fists for assessment have been drawn up, which cover just over 100 chemicals. Following the conclusion of four risk assessments, the European Commission has recently issued a recommendation on the results on the risk evaluation and on the risk reduction strategies for the following substances 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol 2-,(-methoxyethoxy) ethanol alkanes, C10-13, chloro and benzene, C 10-13-alkyl derivatives. For two of the substances, 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol and 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethanol it is concluded that there is a need for specific measures to limit the risks to workers... 

When the outcome of a risk assessment is conclusion (iv), a risk reduction strategy must be developed. The elaboration of such a strategy for new substances is similar to that for existing substances (Section 2.4.1.4.4). 

European Commission Commission Communication on the Results of the Risk Evaluation and Risk Reduction Strategies for the Substances Tetrasodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetate. Off. J. Eur. Union 2006/C 90/04. 

EPA (1992a). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Commentary on harmonizing chemical and radiation risk-reduction strategies, Letter report prepared by Science Advisory Board s Radiation Advisory Committee, EPA-SAB-RAC-COM-92-007 (May 18) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington). 

For food allergen cross-contamination, several important risk reduction strategies are not difficult to list, and include... 

The EU Risk Assessments on the four chlorophosphate flame-retardants—TCPP, TDCP, TCEP, and V-6—were recently finalized.54 57 For TCPP, TDCP, and TCEP all had some risks identified, so risk reduction strategy for each is in progress. The classification and labeling proposal is in preparation for TCPP. No risks were identified for V-6, hence this material will have no risk phrases associated with it. 

Policy, Risk Management and Risk Reduction Strategies... 

Figure 2.9 illustrates how risk management interlinks policy, regulatory rules, risk management practice and risk-reduction strategies. Each factor directly or indirectly influences the others. Descriptions of the four factors involved at a national level are provided in Appendix 2.4. 

Figure 2.9 Chemical risk management the inter-relation of policy, rules, practice and risk-reduction strategies (based on [260]). Influences are indicated by arrows.

The research investigated the potential for negotiation and compromise between the actors. The project also examined the influence that regulators and stakeholder groups have on the efficacy, efficiency, effectiveness and equity of implementing a risk-reduction strategy (RRS) (Section 2.3.4). Ultimately, the tolerability of a RRS depends on such group dynamics (Sections 1.2 and 2.3.4). 

Interview questions needed to address the research questions, but were elaborated and defined after the literature review. Specifically, the questions needed to cover 10 broad topic areas relating to policy, rules, practice and experiences with official risk reduction strategy processes at national and EU levels (as described in Section 2.3.4 and defined in Appendix 2.4). These 10 topic areas were anticipated as minimising potential overlaps between interviewee reports of national and EU dimensions while being sufficiently wide to group variations in interviewee responses. 

RRS = Risk-reduction strategy TGD = Technical guidance document [28] RIPs = REACH implementation projects... 

Summaries of the risk-reduction strategies (RRS) for 28 substances published in the Journal of the European Union were supplemented by risk assessment reports [13, 303-310]. 

Occupational and consumer protection are seen as technical exercises in France. The National Institute of Research and Security (INRS) and the Institute for the Industrial Environment and Safety (INERIS) may be aptly described as state apparatus to control costs to the state of poor regulation. INERIS plays little part in the development of risk-reduction strategies (RRS) because consumer protection and environmental protection follow directly from the risk assessment process. INERIS feeds relevant information directly to the MEDD. Because MESA acts only as a statistical and economic branch of occupational protection, responsibility for the development of occupational RRS is left to the INRS. 

For example, the federal institutions are involved during the development of risk reduction strategies (RRS). The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) may also be involved in chemical risk management processes. 

Although the DTI is primarily responsible for consumers and holds some remit on marketing and use restrictions, Defra appears to be involved with most risk reduction strategy decision-making. 

Risk Risk-reduction strategies Marketing and use restrictions ... 

Figure 5.3 Existing EU risk-reduction strategy process (adapted from [464-466])...

Table 5.1 How further data can require re-evaluation of a risk-reduction strategy...

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