Risk Communication Strategies for Risk Situations - Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Toolkit

This page outlines risk communication approaches as outlined in the OECD guidance document on risk communication for chemical risk management for various risk situations. These risk situations include:

Routine risk situations
Risks with high uncertainty
Risks with potential for controversy

Routine Risk Situations

Routine Risk Situations are where the risks and potential consequences are known.

Table 1: Risk Communication Approaches to use in cases of routine risks

Stage in Risk Management Process	Audiences
Stage in Risk Management Process	Individual & General Public	Media	Institutional Stakeholders
Stage 1: Problem Identification	Brochures and written leaflets. Pre-test of the material or disclosure procedures. Systematic feedback from users of communication material.		Public presentations and discussion.
Stage 2: Setting up the Risk Management Objectives	surveys and focus groups;		Public presentations and discussion Round Tables
Stage 3: Making Recommendations	Brochures and written leaflets; Public presentations and discussion; Exhibitions, educational fairs, participation in science center, visits to schools.	Press Release.	Public presentations and discussion. Round Tables.
Stage 4: Implementation and Evaluation	survey and polls. Internet chat rooms.	Systematic feedback from users of communication material.	Systematic feedback from users of communication material.

Risks with High Uncertainty

Risks with high uncertainty are where risks, including health impacts, are less known and may lead to consequences that are not fully understood.

Table 2: Risk Communication Approaches to use in cases of high uncertainty

Stage in Risk Management Process	Audiences
Stage in Risk Management Process	Individual & General Public	Media	Institutional Stakeholders
Stage 1: Problem Identification	Brochures and written leaflets. Internet website materials. Public presentations and discussion; Pre-test of the material or disclosure procedures Systematic feedback from users of communication material.		Round Tables.
Stage 2: Setting up the Risk Management Objectives	surveys and focus groups. Citizen advisory committees	Systematic feedback from users of communication material.	Expert hearing Expert committees
Stage 3: Making Recommendations	Brochures and written leaflets; Internet website materials. Public presentations and discussion; Pre-test of the material or disclosure procedures Systematic feedback from users of communication material.	Press Release. Press conferences	Expert consensus conference Delphi exercises
Stage 4: Implementation and Evaluation	survey and polls. Internet chat rooms.	Systematic feedback from users of communication material.	Experimental designs Supervision and training

Risks with high potential for controversy

Risks with high potential for controversy are those that trigger highly controversial or emotional responses regardless of the certainty for effect.

Table 3: Risk Communication Approaches to use in cases of risks with high potential for controversy

Stages in Risk Management Process	Audiences
Stages in Risk Management Process	Individual & General Public	Media	Institutional Stakeholders
Stage 1: Problem Identification	Brochures and written leaflets. Internet website materials. Public presentations and discussion; Pre-test of the material or disclosure procedures Systematic feedback from users of communication material.	Press Release Systematic feedback from users of communication material.	Stakeholder hearings
Stage 2: Setting up the Risk Management Objectives	Citizen consensus conferences Citizen panels, planning cells, or citizen juries	Press Release Systematic feedback from users of communication material.	Expert hearing Expert committees Expert consensus conference Delphi exercises
Stage 3: Making Recommendations	Brochures and written leaflets; Internet website materials. Public presentations and discussion. Exhibitions, educational fairs, participation in science center, visits to schools. Experimental designs. survey and polls. Internet chat rooms.	Systematic feedback from users of communication material.	Mediation (arbitration, alternate dispute resolution methods)
Stage 4: Implementation and Evaluation	Experimental designs survey and polls. Internet chat rooms. Supervision and training.	Systematic feedback from users of communication material.	Experimental designs. Supervision and training.

References:

Adapted from OECD Guidance Document on Risk Communication for Chemical Risk Management