On Developing a Risk Analysis Framework for Post-Industrial Age Technologies

Risk assessment, to date, has been primarily a retrospective process. It was developed by the U.S. Space Program in the 1950’s and 60’s with the advent of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis in an attempt to both understand and correct missile and rocket launch failures. It came of age with the publication of the Reactor Safety Study (WASH-1400) in 1975, but only after approximately 75 nuclear power plants already had been designed, built and operated in the U.S. From the remediation of Superfund sites and assessing space missions to improving safety at chemical and nuclear facilities, Risk Assessment has become an important tool for managing the health and safety of the public and the environment.