Systematic Assessment Procedure

In this chapter, after introducing some definitions, a systematic assessment procedure, based on the cooling failure scenario, is outlined. This scenario formulates six key questions that comprise the database for the assessment. Relying on the characteristic temperature levels arising from the scenario, criticality classes are defined. They provide a selection of the required risk-reducing... 

A systematic assessment procedure is therefore required to ensure that all of these aspects are considered. The essential stages of this procedure are ... 

The conservation of mass law finds a major application during the performance of pollution-prevention assessments. As described earlier, a pollution-prevention assessment is a systematic, planned procedure with the objective of identifying methods to reduce or ehminate waste. The assessment process should characterize the selected waste streams and processes (Ref. 11)—a necessaiy ingredient if a material balance is to be performed. Some of the data required for the material balance calciilation may be collected during the first review of site-specific data however, in some instances, the information may not be collected until an actual site walk-through is performed. 

Irwin, S. (1968). Comprehensive observational assessment la. A systematic, quantitative procedure for assessing the behavioral and physiologic state of the mouse. Psychopharma-cologia (Berlin) 13 222-257. 

The European Commission s Joint Research Centre (on behalf of DG S ANCO) has started a project known as European Information System on Risks from Chemicals Released from Consumer Products/Articles (EIS-ChemRisks) (EU 2004), which is designed as a network to collect exposure data, exposure factors, exposure models, and health-related data. The overall objective is to develop tools and reference data to enable harmonized exposure assessment procedures in the EU. A toolbox has been designed to collect exposure information from four reference systems to systematically support exposure assessors in the EU ... 

Obviously not all the parameters described above need to be evaluated for each scenario. In this context, the criticality classes are a useful tool in that they help in selecting the required data for the assessment of severity and probability (see Section 3.3.6). The criticality classes also give backbone to the systematic design procedure (Table 10.3). The procedure to follow for this assessment is presented below for each criticality class. 

Part I gives a general introduction and presents the theoretical, methodological and experimental aspects of thermal risk assessment. The first chapter gives a general introduction on the risks linked to the industrial practice of chemical reactions. The second chapter reviews the theoretical background required for a fundamental understanding of mnaway reactions and reviews the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of chemical reactions. An important part of Chapter 2 is dedicated to the heat balance of reactors. In Chapter 3, a systematic evaluation procedure developed for the evaluation of thermal risks is presented. Since such evaluations are based on data, Chapter 4 is devoted to the most common calorimetric methods used in safety laboratories. 

The process of risk assessment was first formalized (NRC, 1983) by the United States National Academy of Sciences through its National Research Council in 1983. The three stages of risk analysis are defined as risk assessment, risk management and risk communication (Figure 10). The important principle is the functional and organizational separation of exposure and risk assessment from risk management to avoid any non-science-driven influences on the assessment procedures. However, many interactive elements are essential for a systematic risk assessment and management process. 

Analysts and end users of the measurement results should be aware of the new dimension of the procedure validation definition given in ISO/IEC 17025, which requires that a procedure s performance parameters are fit for a specific intended use. In other words this means that the work of an analyst is not finished when performance capabilities of a specific method (or preferably procedure ) are evaluated, but he/she has to go a step further and check whether these characteristics are in compliance with the client s needs. Of course, it is up to the client to specify his/her re-quirements/properties the result should have. Furthermore, ISO/IEC 17025 is introducing evaluation of measurement uncertainty as a mean of performing validation through systematic assessment of all quantities influencing the result. 

We have every reason to consider the estimation of measurement uncertainty in an analytical procedure followed by the judgement of compliance with a target uncertainty value as a kind of validation. This is in full agreement with ISO 17025 that points to several ways of validation, among them systematic assessment of the factors influencing the result and assessment of the uncertainty of the results... [31]. In line with this is also a statistical modelling approach to the validation process that has recently been developed and exemplified as applied to in-house [32] and interlaboratory [33] validation studies. 

Priorities for shoreline cleanup are based on a highly sophisticated shoreline assessment procedure. A systematic evaluation of oiled shorelines can minimize damage to the most sensitive shorelines. When an oil spill occurs, site assessment surveys are usually conducted in direct support of spill response operations. These surveys rely heavily on previously obtained data, maps, and photographs. For example, the structure of the beach is usually already mapped and recorded as part of the sensitivity mapping exercise for the area. 

It was typically in the nuclear technology that systematic prognosis procedures for the event and the consequences of uncontroled accidents were applied. They have been significantly improved over the last 25 years and are now an essential part of the valuation process of nuclear power plants in the form of probabilistic safety and risk assessments (PSA and PRA). 

Workplace risk assessment can be defined as a systematic procedure for analysing workplace components to identify and evaluate hazards and safety characteristics (Harms-Ringdahl 2001). Due to EU regulation (Council Directive 89/391/EEC) each member state of the European Union has to establish national legislation to demand risk assessment procedures in enterprises of all sizes. In Estonia, the Act on Occupational Health and Safety that requires risk assessment at the every workplace was adopted in 1999. Workplace risk assessment has to be conducted by the employers using their own resources or by registered practitioners in occupational health (Occupational Health and Safety Act 1999). 

We used that method with the first EDF s HRA method called FH6 since the strict application of the procedure was postulated, the human failure was defined by an error in the application of the procedure. A wrong answer to a logical test in the procedure (as Primary pressure >30bar ) could lead to complete an unexpected action. The identification of EOCs was consequently based on the systematic assessment of wrong answers in the flowchart of the followed... 

The criteria used to determine the choice of level of assessment and strategies to be utilized are based on the previous discussion in this chapter of conditions under which potential adverse effects of a new ingredient added to infant formula might have been missed in preclinical or clinical trials. Regardless of the level that is chosen, it is expected that systematic data collection procedures (level I assessment) or systematic review procedures (level 2 assessment) will ensure that in-market monitoring information will be assessed for each area of function reviewed in Chapter 6. 

Threat assessment procedures are utilized when a threat is made toward another individual. However, when a threat of suicide is made, different procedures are typically established within a school district. Much like the threat assessment process, a district establishes a standard, systematic protocol for school personnel to follow in response to a student suicide threat. 

Environmental exposure assessment of biocides appears to be less systematically performed than does human exposure assessment. Some countries perform environmental exposure assessments for all use categories regulated, while others perform them on a case-by-case basis. All countries recognize the importance of use data in their assessment procedures, but they also recognize that collecting accurate information is difficult. Environmental monitoring data are not normally required, but are used when available. 

Some PWR plants currently in operation, including WWER plants, do not have a systematic assessment on this event, and therefore, there is no basis to judge the adequacy of emergency procedures, operator training and necessary hardware upgrading. 

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