The role of community awareness in risk communication
The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is made up of elected officials, law enforcement agencies, fire fighting organizations, transportation companies, facility representatives, health care professionals, the media, emergency management coordinators, and the general public. The basic idea behind the LEPC is to provide an organizational format which can bring together governmental officials, facility representatives, and the public. Each LEPC appoints a chairperson, establishes By-Laws, and insures that inventory lists of certain Extremely Hazardous Substances are maintained. True Risk Communication is dependent upon creditable information, given in a timely manner. The information will not be usable if the person receiving it does not trust the source. The trust building process is the major challenge in communicating risk. In many cases the public does not believe information which comes from the chemical industry. The heart and soul of Risk Communication is credibility. The touch stone for building this trust is a ``one on one`` relationship built over time with the neighbors around each plant. The program which allows for that ``face to face`` contact is the Community Awareness Panel (CAP). If the rationale behind the institution of the CAP is a credible ``face to face`` contact between the citizen and the plant, then the facility must take the lead in presenting the information to the neighbors.
- OSTI ID:
- 148021
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950152-; TRN: IM9601%%126
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Petro-Safe `95 conference and exhibition, Houston, TX (United States), 31 Jan - 2 Feb 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Petro-safe `95: 6. Annual environmental, safety and health conference and exhibition for the oil, gas and petrochemical industries. Book 1; PB: 590 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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