Applications of Probabilistic Risk Assessments: The Selection of Appropriate Tools1
- 1 June 1991
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Risk Analysis
- Vol. 11 (2) , 239-248
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1991.tb00600.x
Abstract
Probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) is an important methodology for assessing the risks of complex technologies. This paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of PRA. Its application is explored in three different settings: adversarial policy processes, regulatory/licensing procedures, and plant safety audits. It is concluded that PRA is a valuable tool for auditing safety precautions of existing or planned technologies, especially when it is carried out as an interactive process involving designers and plant personnel who are familiar with actual, everyday operations. PRA has not proven to be as well‐suited in providing absolute risk estimates in public‐policy debates concerning the acceptability of a technology, or for the licensing and regulatory procedures. The reasons for this are discussed.Keywords
This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- The US NRC accident sequence precursor program: Present methods and findingsReliability Engineering & System Safety, 1990
- The accident sequence precursor methodologyReliability Engineering & System Safety, 1990
- Human reliability analysis—where shouldst thou turn?Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 1990
- The Health Risks of Energy ProductionRisk Analysis, 1989
- Technical and Democratic Values in Risk Analysis1Risk Analysis, 1989
- Perception of RiskScience, 1987
- Risk Assessment of Technological Systems — Dimensions of UncertaintyPublished by Springer Nature ,1987
- The political processing of uncertaintyActa Psychologica, 1984
- LEG Risk Assessments: Experts DisagreePublished by Springer Nature ,1983
- Beyond acceptable risk: On the social acceptability of technologiesPolicy Sciences, 1982