Application of Risk Analysis to Environmental Protection: A Post-Graduate Course of Lectures The technological developments in the last few decades have not only contributed to a strong growth of prosperity but also have a t the same time caused the risk factor for the industrial environment t o increase. The possible consequences of a serious accident and the chances of such an accident taking place have considerably increased by the scaling up and the more complex character of industrial activities. More and more persons are confronted in their work with the calculation and evaluation of risks relating to the safety of the industrial environment. In order to functioneffectively the persons involved will have to determine when starting from a certain activity what undesirable events or accidents might occur. Moreover they will have to have an insight into the results of the unwanted events and into calculating the probability of such unwanted events taking place. Until recently adequate training facilities appeared to have heen lacking in the Netherlands. To fill this gap the Technical College a t Heerlen started a post-graduate course on Industry, Environment, and Safety. The program of this course (a detailed program is obtainable from the Technical College at Heerlenj is built up of five phases: general introduction, technical aspects, safety analysis, social aspects, and ease studies. In the first and second stages (40 hrj the student becomes acquainted with anumber of concepts from statistics, toxicology, fire-fighting and the mechanism and prevention of explosions. Moreover, the techniques applied in storing, transporting, and processing dangerous materials are dealt with. In the third stage (40 hr) the following subjects will successively come up far discussion: process-safety analysis, vulnerability analysis, calculation of effects, damages and probabilities, reliability analysis, and risk calculation. In addition, the subject of the human element as a cause of accidents will be dealt with. In the fourth phase (25 hrj attention will be paid to the legal, economical, and urban planning aspects. In the fifth phase (25 hr) the knowledge and insight acquired will be further extended with the help of a number of case studies. The instruction is set up as a block-system and takes place bothen-cathedra andin the form uf discussions. Field trips t o government and private institutions acquaint the students with the approaches being used by such institutions to solve environmental problems. The graduates of this course will he considered capable of determining, minimizing, and comparing the risks resulting from certain industrial activities. Thus, they may contribute to a responsible industrial policy. The interest in this course, which is being given in various t o m s in the Netherlands, is such that the general conclusion is that this training meets a public need. The author is grateful to J. J. Th. Boumans for reviewing the manuscript. H. M. L. Dieteren lnstltute of Technology Dr. Jaegersstraat 40 Heerlen N r t h d a n r l ~
Volume 60
Number 5
May 1983
401
