Enhancing Risk Management by Focusing on the Local Level: An Integrated Approach

Abstract

An integrated approach to risk management that focuses on the local level will lead to a more satisfactory and timely resolution of localized risk situations such as chemical contamination of groundwater that serves as a source of drinking water. More importantly this approach will result in additional positive long-range effects — increased local capabilities to deal with future chemical risk problems and improved prevention of some types of chemical contamination of groundwater. Conceptualizing the management of risks as having inputs (the risk situation, laws and policies, technical context, and community context), process, and outcomes illustrates that neither outside intervenors nor the local community should approach a risk situation without regard for all of the inputs or without understanding the dynamics of the process of managing risks at the local level.