Hazard Risk Perception Research Articles

Cultural worldviews and the perception of natural hazard risk in Australia

ABSTRACT The cultural theory of risk proposes that risk perception is biased by sociality and the maintenance of four ways or life, or cultural worldviews: hierarchism, egalitarianism, individualism or communitarianism. This study examined whether cultural worldviews influenced the perception of the risk of bushfire, flood, storm and earthquake in Australia. A sample of 503 participants completed two questionnaires: cultural worldviews and natural hazard risk perception. Only 30% of respondents held strongly hierarchical, egalitarian, individualist or communitarian worldviews. Several aspects of natural hazard risk perception were predicted by cultural worldviews, but associations were weak. Individualists perceived greater risk of, and responsibility for, natural hazards possibly because they perceive them to be a disruptive threat that limits freedom. Egalitarians perceived greater risk from bushfire or storm, possibly because they understand the potential for social impacts from these events and favour collective response. Notions of control and mitigation of natural hazards were associated with hierarchism. Communitarianism was not a predictor of natural hazard risk perception. However, most people don’t view natural hazards as a threat to their sociality and way of life. Single heuristics, such as the cultural theory of risk, are unlikely to capture the complexity of natural hazard risk perception in Australia.

Building a Natural Hazard Insurance System (NHIS): The Long-lasting Italian Case

The worrying growth of extreme natural events and their socioeconomic impact over time is increasingly fuelling the debate on how to manage disasters in view of developing resilient and sustainable societies. One possible financial tool may be represented by insurance against natural hazards, such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides. From this perspective, the current article considers legislative attempts to build a Natural Hazard Insurance System (NHIS) in Italy. The (never promulgated) bills proposed over a time span of about 30 years were analysed by: (a) A text-mining technique, considering the extraction of relevant data for the research; (b) the careful reading of the texts and their cross-correlated critical analysis. Approximately forty bills have been proposed since the 1980s and they mainly concern the proposal of an NHIS based on a certain degree of compulsoriness (the voluntary system is contemplated only on a subordinate basis). Two possible main hurdles to the promulgation of such laws were inferred: the insurance scheme to be adopted and the issue of illegal buildings. Furthermore, the item of natural hazard risk perception was a factor not adequately considered by the bills. Based on the critical scrutiny of the bills and taking advantage of international experiences, the establishment of a voluntary national scheme managed by a public authority with specific competences on NHIS is proposed.

Earthquake and Fire Hazard Risk Perception: A Study on the Emerging Rangpur City of Bangladesh

Rangpur city is one of the emerging cities in Bangladesh. In 2012, this city upgraded from municipality to city corporation. On the one hand, the city population started to increase; on the other hand, vulnerability to earthquake and fire hazards are increased due to rapid urbanization. Therefore, we investigate the risk perception of earthquake and fire hazards in Rangpur. The purpose of this study is fourfold: (i) to assess the risk perception of earthquake hazards and fire hazards at the household level; (ii) to investigate the influence of demographic and socio-economic factors on the risk perception of each hazard; (iii) to investigate the preparedness for earthquake and fire hazards; and (iv) to propose planning guidelines and policy interventions for the disaster resilience of the Rangpur city focusing on earthquake and fire hazards. We conducted a questionnaire survey with 558 participants and 9 semi-structured interviews in fifteen electoral wards in Rangpur city. Afterward, we analyzed the data in SPSS and ArcMap platforms. The study results show that socio-demographic indicators such as gender, household ownership type, and residential floor are likely to influence citizens’ risk perception. We also find that the spatial distribution of risk perception of both hazards is diversified at the electoral ward level. At the same time, we observe that the level of preparedness for both hazards is not satisfactory. Based on the study findings, we recommend a few planning guidelines and policy interventions for disaster resilience in Rangpur city.

Krʊəh: astrology, risk perception, and vulnerability to mishap and disaster in Cambodia

There are strong cross-cultural differences in the subjective judgment of risk perception of hazards or disasters. This article aims to examine the cultural construction of risk perception and who is at risk of succumbing to a disaster, using the 2010 human stampede at the Diamond Island bridge in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as a case study. It focuses on the role of astrology in indicating who is at risk and why. An ethnographic study was conducted in Phnom Penh and nine provinces, involving five survivors and eight of their family members, 34 bereaved relatives of nine people who had been killed, 31 villagers, and 48 key informants including monks, female Buddhist devotees, lay officiants, mediums, and traditional healers. People consulted astrological practitioners, monks, and healers for diagnosis using methods that drew on stories in the Dhammapada and the Jātaka stories. Risk and vulnerability to mishap were believed to arise from the intersection between /krʊəh cɑŋray/ (គ្រោះចង្រៃ), or astrological misfortune, and /riesəy/ (រាសី), the person’s zodiac house at a given time. Krʊəh was calculated by diviners using from five systems: ‘the exact year’ /kʊət cnam/ (គត់ឆ្នាំ); ‘zodiac year treads in the current year,’ /coan cnam/ (ជាន់ឆ្នាំ); ‘incompatibility of the current and birth years,’ /cʰoŋ cnam/ (ឆុងឆ្នាំ); ‘fatal astrological angle day of week,’ /tŋay ʔɑŋsaa/ (ថ្ងៃអង្សា); and ‘tail end of the old and the beginning of the new year,’ /cɑmniə cnam/ (ចំនៀរឆ្នាំ). Where indicated, whether by monks or healers, or by common knowledge, people sought ritual interventions to banish their /krʊəh/. The cultural framing of risk and vulnerability in Cambodia seems to be based on ancient Vedic astrology and contributes to the understanding of astrology in contemporary Buddhist societies. There are implications for the development of culturally responsive strategies to effectively communicate with communities about their risk and vulnerability to mishap, and disaster.

Risk perception and organizational capacity building in the Azores (Percepción del riesgo y desarrollo organizacional de capacidades de las Azores)

ABSTRACTAt an organizational level, effective communication and coordination are vital elements of capacity building to foster disaster resilience. The aim of this study is to verify differences in volcanic hazard risk perception and knowledge of Civil Protection agents with responsibilities in disaster management in the Azores, assuming that these can influence communication. Risk perception and knowledge were evaluated on a convenience sample of 373 participants. Results indicate moderate levels of volcanic risk perception, lack of knowledge and significant differences in the risk perception of agents from the Civil Protection System. Questions on the efficacy of risk communication between agents, the dissemination of information pertaining to volcanic risk, the dissemination of information on emergency and preparedness measures implemented and on the forms of communication between Civil Protection agents were raised. This study can be regarded as a first effort to analyse the capacity of public officials in the Azores to deal with a volcanic event and points to areas to enhance if resilience is to be promoted.

Assessing College Students’ Risk Perceptions of Hazards in Chemistry Laboratories

College laboratories are generally perceived to be low-risk environments in comparison to industrial laboratories and plant operations. However, accidents in college chemistry laboratories have revealed the safety conditions to which both students and staff may be exposed. Improving the effectiveness of laboratory safety training programs and chemical safety education requires gaining an understanding of how undergraduate students may perceive the risk associated with chemistry laboratory settings. This study characterized risk perceptions of safety hazards in chemistry laboratories among college students. Undergraduate college students from the chemistry and biology department of a university in Mexico were surveyed. The Workers’ Risk Perception Dimensional Evaluation (EDRP-T) was used to characterize risk perceptions through nine dimensions and the overall perceived risk for three risk factors: laboratory work, chemical splashes, and chemical-substances inhalation. Perceived risk was characterized in a sample of 521 undergraduate students. Students felt confident in successfully dealing with the risk factors evaluated despite feelings of dread and vulnerability as well as concerns about the severity of the consequences of an injury. Their perceived ability to control and avoid these risks might have reflected the students’ self-efficacy. Discrepancies in characterizing risk perception as a multidimensional construct or a direct, measurable characteristic were identified. Gaining an understanding about what undergraduate students do and do not perceive as hazardous is a valuable input to develop risk management and communication strategies with the potential to influence students’ decision-making process that can result in safer behaviors. Successful design and implementation of chemical education programs requires recognizing gaps at all levels.

Interpersonal communication sources and natural hazard risk perception: a case study of a rural Chinese village

This exploratory study contributes to our knowledge about the relationships between interpersonal communication sources and risk perception regarding natural hazards. Survey data (N = 186) from a small village in northwest China was used, and the correlations between eight types of interpersonal communication sources related to disaster risk reduction and the perceived severity and perceived likelihood of occurrence of eight types of natural hazards were explored. Past studies have suggested that interpersonal communication sources are more likely to influence individuals in their perceived severity of natural hazards than in their perceived likelihood of occurrence. The results of this study moderately corroborate this finding. The results indicated that different sources have different relationships to risk perception, as positive correlations were found between obtaining information via certain trained science professionals (science teachers, emergency responders, scientific experts) and certain natural hazard risk perceptions, while negative relationships were found between obtaining information via certain personal contacts (other villagers and relatives and friends) and certain natural hazard risk perceptions. However, the strength of these relationships was weak (− 0.197 ≥ r ≤ 0.245). Age showed statically significant correlations with the perceived severity of most of the natural hazards. Studies with more representative samples and controls for theoretical factors are needed to better understand how interpersonal communication sources affect individuals' natural hazard risk perceptions.

Public perception of climatological tornado risk in Tennessee, USA.

The southeastern United States experiences some of the greatest tornado fatality rates in the world, with a peak in the western portion of the state of Tennessee. Understanding the physical and social characteristics of the area that may lead to increased fatalities is a critical research need. Residents of 12 Tennessee counties from three regions of the state (N = 1804) were asked questions about their perception of climatological tornado risk in their county. Approximately half of participants underestimated their local tornado risk calculated from 50 years of historical tornado data. The percentage of participants underestimating their climatological risk increased to 81% when using model estimates of tornado frequencies that account for likely missed tornadoes. A mixed effects, ordinal logistic regression model suggested that participants with prior experience with tornadoes are more likely to correctly estimate or overestimate (rather than underestimate) their risk compared to those lacking experience (β = 0.52, p < 0.01). Demographic characteristics did not have a large influence on the accuracy of climatological tornado risk perception. Areas where more tornadoes go unreported may be at a disadvantage for understanding risk because residents' prior experience is based on limited observations. This work adds to the literature highlighting the importance of personal experiences in determining hazard risk perception and emphasizes the uniqueness of tornadoes, as they may occur in rural areas without knowledge, potentially prohibiting an accumulation of experiences.

연안지역별 자연재해 위험인식 차이에 관한 연구

본 연구는 연안지역별 주민의 위험인식 차이를 분석하는데 목적을 둔다. 자연재해 분야의 연구 및 정책에서는 연안지역의 위험을 평가하기 위하여 과거 피해통계를 활용하고 있다. 평가결과는 자연재해 관리 및 기후변화에 대응 정책 근거로 사용되며, 연안지역별 위험 정도의 차이에 따라 정책이 개발되어 왔다. 그러나 정책의 대상이 되는 지역사회의 주민이 인지하는 위험인식과 정도에는 연구의 관심이 부족하였다. 위험지역에서의 정책이 효과적으로 실행되기 위해서는 주민 인식 이해가 필요하다. 이에 본 연구는 국내 연안지역 주민 900명에 대한 전화설문조사를 실시하고, 위험인식(관심, 방재정책이해, 예상피해)에 대한 연안별 차이를 밝히고자 하였다. 이를 위하여 본 연구는 설문조사 결과에 대한 분산분석 및 회귀분석을 수행하였다. 분산분석 결과는 연안별로 위험에 대한 관심과 예상 피해에 대한 인식 차이를 보여주었다. 회귀분석모형의 자료는 등분산성에 대한 가정이 위배되어, 본 연구는 로버스트 표준오차를 활용한 회귀분석을 수행하였다. 회귀분석 결과에서는 연안지역의 차이가 위험 인식(위험 관심 및 예상 피해)에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 서해 지역의 주민이 다른 지역 주민들보다 낮은 위험 인식 수준을 갖는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구의 정책적 함의는 다음과 같다. 정책결정권자는 향후 피해가 증가할 것으로 예상되는 서해지역 주민의 위험 인식 수준이 낮게 나타난 점에 대하여 관심을 기울여야 한다. 연안별로 위험 인식이 다른 점을 반영하여 향후 기후변화 적응 및 자연재해 완화대책이 수립되어야 한다.

Risk Perception in a Multi-Hazard Environment

Summary Environmental disasters cause enormous losses of life and property every year, a threat that is recognized and addressed in both the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals. Organizations from both the risk reduction and development fields are working to design programs that build risk understanding and risk perception to encourage protective action in communities that are often at risk from multiple, overlapping threats. We know little, however, about how individuals perceive and prioritize multiple hazards at once and how this relates to their adoption of protective action strategies in the developing world. Our work addresses environmental hazard risk perception in a multi-hazard context in eastern Uganda, with particular attention paid to the role that risk reduction and development organizations (RDOs) play in shaping risk perceptions, as well as their potential to influence protective action. To better understand risk prioritization, we used survey data from farming households to generate four indices reflecting several components of risk perception and to predict holistic risk perception through multivariate regression analysis. Our study finds that the factors shaping smallholder risk perception vary among hazards within the study population and that characteristics of both hazards and individuals are important. The regression analysis also reveals a surprising relationship between risk perception, self-efficacy, and protective action. Our findings suggest that risk reduction and development programs can play an important role in affecting both risk perception and the capacity of smallholders to respond to environmental threats. Our work adds to the growing body of literature on how people perceive and respond to risk in a multi-hazard environment, a context increasingly common in a changing world. Improved understanding of how RDO programs in the developing world are engaging with and influencing risk mitigation in the multi-hazard environments is fundamental for reducing vulnerability.

Perceived risks of produced water management and naturally occurring radioactive material content in North Dakota

Unconventional oil and gas development using hydraulic fracturing has caused conflict and controversy across the globe including the U.S. where some States banned the practice. Nevertheless, North Dakota (ND) has supported the practice because the State perceives the risks to be acceptable and because it has brought growth and opportunities to small communities. However, social acceptance of new technology is based on a number of factors and not contingent on economic benefits. To date, no research has been conducted to understand public risk perception of hazards associated with produced water from hydraulic fracturing in ND. This study focuses on understanding the risk perception of select ND stakeholder groups regarding produced water management and naturally occurring radioactive material. The software Qualtrics was used to create an online survey, collect data, and perform statistical analysis. The most important variables that seem to influence risk perception are the images and thoughts associated with produced water, level of knowledge about produced water handling and content, and knowing how to proceed in case of a spill of produced water. Overall, social risk perception could be in alignment with actual technical risk if availability of objective information is improved.

Local facility hazard risk controversy and non-local hazard risk perception

Facility siting disputes are as much about the socio-politics in a place as they are about the risks posed by the facility; yet not much is known about how localized controversy about one hazard effects the perception of other, non-local, hazard risks. Our exploratory study tests the idea that a local facility risk controversy (landfill expansion) is tied to an overall sensitivity to risks from a wider range of potentially hazardous facilities. We use logistic regression models of questionnaire survey responses from 205 residents living near two landfills that were recently expanded or proposed to be expanded. Psychometric risk variables, cultural theory of risk variables, and sociodemographic variables are used as controls to see if risk-in-place/context variables related to threat and governance (e.g. fairness and fiduciary equity) predict not only risk from the landfill but also risk from three other potentially hazardous facilities (incinerator, chemical, and nuclear). The risk-in-place/context variables are predictive across all hazards but there is little consistency in the mix of predictors across models. The results suggest that facility controversy is linked to how residents view risks from non-local facility hazards and that this effect varies by place. This points to the need for more research in this area, and is suggestive that risk-hazard controversy may foster localized risk-averse places or wider risk-averse communities.

Environmental Health Hazardscapes

Environmental Health Hazardscapes

Analysis on Public Risk Perception and Environmental Risk

이 연구는 과학적으로 측정된 자연재해(홍수, 허리케인영향지역) 및 인적재난(위험물질 근접지역) 위험지수가 거주민들의 그 재해에 대한 인지도에 어떻게 영향을 끼치는지를 조사하였다. 이 연구는 더불어 연구 대상지역의 인구적 특성과 각각의 재해에 대한 위험 인지도가 어떤 상관관계를 갖는지를 테스트하였다. 주요 연구결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 인구적 특성들(연령, 성별, 가족구성의 크기, 결혼여부, 주택거주기간)과 자연재해(홍수/허리케인)와 인적재난(위험물질 측정치)에 대한 위험 인지도 사이에는 통계적인 상관관계가 없었다. 대조적으로 교육수준, 성별, 가족의 수입은 자연재해에 대한 인지도와 통계적으로 의미 있는 상관관계가 있었다. 한편, 교육수준과 성별은 인적재난에 대한 인지도와 통계적으로 의미 있는 상관관계가 있었다. 자연재해(홍수와 허리케인)에 대해 과학적으로 측정된 위험지수는 재해로 인한 재산상의 손실예측에 대한 인지도와 통계적인 상관관계가 있었다. 그러나 그 위험지수는 자연재해로 인한 상해나 건강상의 위험에 대한 인지도와는 상관관계가 없었다. 전체적으로 말해서, 이 연구 결과는 강이나 바다의 근처에 주거지를 갖진 사람들이 자연재해로부터 자신 및 가족의 안전 및 건강위해 가능성에 대한 위험 인식도가 낮음을 보여주고 있다. 하지만 이러한 위험지역에 위치한 거주민들이 재해로 인한 자신의 주거지가 손상을 입을 가능성에 대한 인식은 통계적으로 의미 있게 나타나고 있다. 이는 그들이 자신 및 가족은 재해 위험으로부터 대피함으로써 생명을 보호할 수 있지만 자신의 주택은 그렇게 할 수 없기 때문인 것으로 추정된다. This research examined how Scientifically Estimated Environmental Risks (SEERs) of floods, hurricanes, and hazardous material releases are related with perceived risks of those hazards. This study also tested the relationship between household characteristics and environmental risk perceptions. Major findings of this research are as follows. First, there were little differences in risk perceptions of natural and technological hazards across demographic groups. Specifically, the respondents' risk perceptions of both natural and technological hazards did not differ by age, household size, and marital status. By contrast, educational level, gender (male =1), and median household income were statistically related to perceived risk of the natural hazards, whereas educational attainment and gender were statistically related to perceived risk of hazardous material releases. Finally, SEERs of floods and hurricanes were positively related to respondents' perception of property damage, but not related to injury or heath problems from those natural hazards. SEER of hazardous materials was related to all three categories of risk perception of a hazardous material release. These results suggest that environmental cues such as proximity to rivers and bays do not much contribute to an increase in the respondents' perception of safety and health problems resulting from natural hazards. The fact that there was a significant correlation with property damage suggests that risk area residents believe that they can protect themselves (e.g., by evacuating), but not their property.

Safety culture and hazard risk perception of Australian and New Zealand maritime pilots

A survey of the safety culture and hazard risk perception has been carried out involving 77 maritime pilots around Australia and New Zealand, representing more than the 20% of the maritime pilots in each country, in proportional geographic distribution. In 82% of the cases, interviews were carried out face-to-face, based on a questionnaire designed to be completed in less than 1 hour. Questions on 4 different aspects were asked, relating to each pilot's professional background, safety culture and perception of risks, navigation and pilotage hazards and their perception of the pilot's role. The responses indicated that there are issues with regulator identification, commercial pressures on pilots in some locations, incident reporting mechanisms and feedback, training opportunities and improved bridge resource management. In addition to reviewing comments made by pilots, the paper also presents recommendations for consideration in improving operational performance and safety of navigation in ports and regulated waterways. These recommendations can be used by regulators to improve their performance concerning pilotage matters and understand pilots’ concerns.

Fishing in contaminated waters: knowledge and risk perception of hazards by fishermen in New York City.

Risk perception studies show that people may underestimate significant risks while overestimating others. Further, government agencies may assume the public becomes aware of risks when the agency has issued advisories, when in reality a segment of the population remains unaware of these warnings. This article reports on a survey of people fishing on the catchment basins of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in New York City. Of the 154 groups interviewed, only 19% believed the waters or fish were contaminated or unsafe, despite state warnings to the contrary. Fishermen made nearly five visits per month, and ate an average of three fish a week, (remaining fish were eaten by their families) and fish were usually fried. Most people believed the fish were safe to eat, or that they could recognize if one was spoiled. Thus, most people were ignoring the health advisories on consuming fish from these waters. We suggest that these fishermen are unaware of health advisories, or ignore them because the fishing situation is familiar, voluntary, pleasurable, and has not resulted in their illness. Since they believe they can determine if the fish are bad from smell and appearance, they have changed their own analysis from the unknown (chronic, delayed risks from toxics) to the known (immediate illness), lowering their perceived risk, but not the actual risk.