Risk assessment - Revision history

Gauche at 15:41, 25 March 2011

2011-03-25T15:41:05Z

Gauche at 14:59, 25 March 2011

2011-03-25T14:59:59Z

Gauche at 14:49, 25 March 2011

2011-03-25T14:49:34Z

Gauche at 14:24, 25 March 2011

2011-03-25T14:24:03Z

Gauche at 14:23, 25 March 2011

2011-03-25T14:23:19Z

Gauche at 14:06, 25 March 2011

2011-03-25T14:06:35Z

Gauche at 14:05, 25 March 2011

2011-03-25T14:05:02Z

Gauche at 13:56, 25 March 2011

2011-03-25T13:56:25Z

Gauche at 12:30, 25 March 2011

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Gauche at 18:00, 24 March 2011

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 ==Risk assessment==
-This process aims to investigate the likelihood and consequences of entry of the pathogen into the country and the likelihood and consequences of pathogen spread within the country.
+This process aims to investigate the likelihood and consequences of entry of the pathogen into the country and the likelihood and consequences of pathogen spread within the country. It is divided into three steps following a logical progression (release, exposure, consequence), along with a step which brings these three together to produce a final estimate (estimation).
 ===Release assessment===
+This stage requires the investigation of how animals to be imported may become contaminated or infected with the pathogen of interest (both within the exporting country and en route to the importing country), as well as whether they will remain infected by the time they arrive in the importing country (including pre-movement testing of live animals, quarantine practices, or slaughter and processing pathways for animal products). This is then used to estimate the likelihood of infected animals being imported. A useful way of visualising this process is through the creation of a scenario tree detailing the steps by which the pathogen can enter the country.
 ===Exposure assessment===
 ===Consequence assessment===
 ===Risk estimation===
 [[Category:Veterinary Epidemiology - Further Concepts|A]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:59, 25 March 2011
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	In the context of risk assessment, the concept of '''risk''' can be viewed as the product of the '''likelihood''' of an event occurring and the '''consequences''' of that event (which may be biological, economic or environmental consequences). Additionally, the '''perception''' of the event is an important consideration, which can have a large impact upon risk. One example of a hazard which is generally ''perceived'' to be risky is radiation from nuclear power plants, due to a number of characteristics such as invisibility, association with long-term human health risks (including cancers), not viewed as being necessary, and being created from a process which many people do not understand. Therefore, when deciding where to site a nuclear power plant, consideration of the risk should include the likelihood of radiation release (which will generally be very low/negligible), the consequences of this (which are very high) '''and''' the perception of the risk by people who would live near to the power station.<br>		In the context of risk assessment, the concept of '''risk''' can be viewed as the product of the '''likelihood''' of an event occurring and the '''consequences''' of that event (which may be biological, economic or environmental consequences). Additionally, the '''perception''' of the event is an important consideration, which can have a large impact upon risk. One example of a hazard which is generally ''perceived'' to be risky is radiation from nuclear power plants, due to a number of characteristics such as invisibility, association with long-term human health risks (including cancers), not viewed as being necessary, and being created from a process which many people do not understand. Therefore, when deciding where to site a nuclear power plant, consideration of the risk should include the likelihood of radiation release (which will generally be very low/negligible), the consequences of this (which are very high) '''and''' the perception of the risk by people who would live near to the power station.<br>

		+	=How do we measure risk?=
		+	There are two main approaches to risk assessment, known as '''qualitative''' and ''''quantitative''' risk assessment. Qualitative risk assessment is a subjective process which denotes risk using words, and is commonly used in the early stages of a risk assessment, before comprehensive data have been collected. Quantitative risk assessment is also a predominantly subjective process, but the risk is denoted using probabilities (either as point estimates or as probability distributions). The results of a quantitative risk assessment are often more easy to convey to stakeholders, but care must be taken to not give the illusion of perfect knowledge when these are presented. In the case of both qualitative and quantitative risk assessment, the framework adopted should be clearly explained, all data sources should be appropriately referenced and the whole process should be transparent.

	=Stages of a risk assessment process=		=Stages of a risk assessment process=

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 =What is risk?=
-In the context of risk assessment, the concept of '''risk''' can be viewed as the product of the '''likelihood''' of an event occurring and the '''consequences''' of that event. Additionally, the '''perception''' of the event is an important consideration, which can have a large impact upon risk. One example of a hazard which is generally ''perceived'' to be risky is radiation from nuclear power plants, due to a number of characteristics such as invisibility, association with long-term human health risks (including cancers), not viewed as being necessary, and being created from a process which many people do not understand. Therefore, when deciding where to site a nuclear power plant, consideration of the risk should include the likelihood of radiation release (which will generally be very low/negligible), the consequences of this (which are very high) '''and''' the perception of the risk by people who would live near to the power station.<br>
+In the context of risk assessment, the concept of '''risk''' can be viewed as the product of the '''likelihood''' of an event occurring and the '''consequences''' of that event (which may be biological, economic or environmental consequences). Additionally, the '''perception''' of the event is an important consideration, which can have a large impact upon risk. One example of a hazard which is generally ''perceived'' to be risky is radiation from nuclear power plants, due to a number of characteristics such as invisibility, association with long-term human health risks (including cancers), not viewed as being necessary, and being created from a process which many people do not understand. Therefore, when deciding where to site a nuclear power plant, consideration of the risk should include the likelihood of radiation release (which will generally be very low/negligible), the consequences of this (which are very high) '''and''' the perception of the risk by people who would live near to the power station.<br>
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 ==Hazard identification==
-Before a risk assessment can be conducted, the hazard(s) of interest must be identified. It is vital that all hazards of interest are identified, as if they are not identified in this stage, they will not be accounted for in the final risk assessment. For example, if a risk assessment was conducted in order to investigate the risk of  Examples of hazards are 'the movement of at least one animal infected with pathogen x into a country over the course of one year', 'a level of contamination of meat of more than CFUs of Salmonella per cm2'
+Before a risk assessment can be conducted, the hazard(s) of interest must be identified. It is vital that all hazards of interest are identified, as if they are not identified in this stage, they will not be accounted for in the final risk assessment. In the context of veterinary risk assessment, hazards are usually pathogenic agents such as bacteria or viruses. The selection of which pathogens are of importance will depend on the '''risk question''' to be asked, which may specify only one pathogen or may include all pathogens present in the exporting country (in which case, a comprehensive investigation of which pathogens are present in the exporting country, and whether these are a hazard for the importing country, will need to be conducted). All relevant information about the hazard(s), including epidemiology, control measures, and general status in the exporting and importing countries) should then be compiled in preparation for the risk assessment stage. In the case of multiple hazards being considered, each should be investigated separately.
 ==Risk assessment==
 ===Release assessment===
 ===Exposure assessment===
-===Consequence assessment
+===Consequence assessment===
 ===Risk estimation===
 [[Category:Veterinary Epidemiology - Further Concepts|A]]

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 As the OIE framework is most commonly used by veterinary epidemiologists investigating diseases of animals, this framework will be described in more detail here. The framework consists of three consecutive steps, all linked through '''risk communication''' in order to create an iterative, repeating process. These steps are '''hazard identification''', '''risk assessment''' and '''risk management''', and the first two of these will be covered in more detail below.
-===Hazard identification===
+==Hazard identification==
 Before a risk assessment can be conducted, the hazard(s) of interest must be identified. It is vital that all hazards of interest are identified, as if they are not identified in this stage, they will not be accounted for in the final risk assessment. For example, if a risk assessment was conducted in order to investigate the risk of  Examples of hazards are 'the movement of at least one animal infected with pathogen x into a country over the course of one year', 'a level of contamination of meat of more than CFUs of Salmonella per cm2'
 ===Release assessment===
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 ===Consequence assessment
 [[Category:Veterinary Epidemiology - Further Concepts|A]]

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 =Stages of a risk assessment process=
 ===Hazard identification===
 Before a risk assessment can be conducted, the hazard(s) of interest must be identified. It is vital that all hazards of interest are identified, as if they are not identified in this stage, they will not be accounted for in the final risk assessment. For example, if a risk assessment was conducted in order to investigate the risk of  Examples of hazards are 'the movement of at least one animal infected with pathogen x into a country over the course of one year', 'a level of contamination of meat of more than CFUs of Salmonella per cm2'

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:56, 25 March 2011
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−	Risk assessment is a tool for the objective evaluation of risk, and is ~~increasingly used~~ in veterinary epidemiology - in ~~particular~~, ~~in relation to~~ international trade in animals and animal products. Risk assessment ~~forms a part of~~ an overarching '''risk analysis''' process, which also incorporates risk management (the process whereby the risk ~~is reduced~~) and risk communication (which involves the dissemination of relevant information to stakeholders). In risk assessment, the concept of risk can be viewed as the product of the '''likelihood''' of an event occurring and the '''consequences''' of that event.	+	Risk assessment is a tool for the objective evaluation of risk, and is commonly performed by veterinary epidemiologists. Its use in the setting of veterinary epidemiology has increased in recent years, particularly as a tool for the objective consideration of the risk of movement of pathogens through international trade in animals and animal products. Risk assessment is only one component in an overarching '''risk analysis''' process, which also incorporates risk management (the process whereby procedures are implemented in order to reduce the risk) and risk communication (which involves the ongoing dissemination of relevant information to stakeholders). However, these other components of the risk analysis process will not be covered in further detail here as they are predominantly the responsibility of risk managers and policy makers.<br>
		+
		+	==What is risk?==
		+	In the context of risk assessment, the concept of '''risk''' can be viewed as the product of the '''likelihood''' of an event occurring and the '''consequences''' of that event. Additionally, the '''perception''' of the event is an important consideration, which can have a large impact upon risk. One example of a hazard which is generally ''perceived'' to be risky is radiation from nuclear power plants, due to a number of characteristics such as invisibility, association with long-term human health risks (including cancers), not viewed as being necessary, and being created from a process which many people do not understand. Therefore, when deciding where to site a nuclear power plant, consideration of the risk should include the likelihood of radiation release (which will generally be very low/negligible), the consequences of this (which are very high) '''and''' the perception of the risk by people who would live near to the power station.

	==Hazard identification==		==Hazard identification==

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:30, 25 March 2011
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−	Risk assessment is a tool for the objective evaluation of risk, and is increasingly used in veterinary epidemiology. Risk assessment forms a part of an overarching '''risk analysis''' process, which also incorporates risk management (the process whereby the risk is reduced) and risk communication (which involves the dissemination of relevant information to stakeholders). In risk assessment, the concept of risk can be viewed as the product of the '''likelihood''' of an event occurring and the '''consequences''' of that event.	+	Risk assessment is a tool for the objective evaluation of risk, and is increasingly used in veterinary epidemiology - in particular, in relation to international trade in animals and animal products. Risk assessment forms a part of an overarching '''risk analysis''' process, which also incorporates risk management (the process whereby the risk is reduced) and risk communication (which involves the dissemination of relevant information to stakeholders). In risk assessment, the concept of risk can be viewed as the product of the '''likelihood''' of an event occurring and the '''consequences''' of that event.
		+
		+	==Hazard identification==
		+	Before a risk assessment can be conducted, the hazard of interest must be identified (although in some risk assessment frameworks, this stage is included as a component of the risk assessment stage itself). It is vital that all hazards of interest are identified, as if they are not identified in this stage, they will not be accounted for in the final risk assessment. Examples of hazards are 'the movement of at least one animal infected with pathogen x into a country over the course of one year', 'a level of contamination of meat of more than CFUs of Salmonella per cm2'

	[[Category:Veterinary Epidemiology - Further Concepts\|A]]		[[Category:Veterinary Epidemiology - Further Concepts\|A]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:00, 24 March 2011
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−	Risk assessment is a tool for the objective evaluation of risk, and is increasingly used in veterinary epidemiology. Risk assessment forms a part of an overarching '''~~Risk~~ analysis''' process, which also incorporates risk management (the process whereby the risk is reduced) and risk communication (which involves the dissemination of relevant information to stakeholders).	+	Risk assessment is a tool for the objective evaluation of risk, and is increasingly used in veterinary epidemiology. Risk assessment forms a part of an overarching '''risk analysis''' process, which also incorporates risk management (the process whereby the risk is reduced) and risk communication (which involves the dissemination of relevant information to stakeholders). In risk assessment, the concept of risk can be viewed as the product of the '''likelihood''' of an event occurring and the '''consequences''' of that event.

	[[Category:Veterinary Epidemiology - Further Concepts\|A]]		[[Category:Veterinary Epidemiology - Further Concepts\|A]]