Health Risk Assessment (Scoping) Guidelines

Health risk assessment is about providing information to make informed decisions. This document and framework have been developed to provide those involved in approval processes with an approach to consider health risks within the scoping stages of health and environmental impact assessments. The specific focus of the process described here is the Scoping stage of the approvals process but it could also be useful in the risk assessment/risk management stages of the impact assessment process. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) developed a risk-based approach for environmental impact assessment which acknowledged the importance of the importance of recognising public health issues associated with project development. Brief information is presented on the establishment of this framework from the EPA’s approach, clarity on the terminology used and the role of the framework within Health Impact Assessment. The framework is based on risk assessment methodologies but provides a more specific health characterisation of potential risks to the public from new project proposals. It is hoped this framework will assist prioritisation of risks within the scoping stages of impact assessments and provide some guidance on the reduction of risks to the health of potentially affected populations. It is intended that the use of this framework is trialed by proponents and the health sector and that a review of the process will be undertaken during 2011. Your feedback on the process at this stage will be welcomed.