RISK ANALYSIS AND RISK POLICY IN THE NETHERLANDS AND THE EEC

Since the introduction of the EEC Directive on Major Hazards, efforts have been made in all European countries to implement a policy on the control of major hazards involving hazardous materials. The way that this has been done varies from country to country, depending on the seriousness of the problem for that country and the existing legislative systems. In the Netherlands space is very limited and a relatively large population lives close to one of the largest chemical areas in Europe, so the Dutch government has opted for a systematic management of industrial risk using quantified risk analysis and quantified risk criteria. To make this policy work they have developed computer based systems that integrate present knowledge about the behaviour of vapour clouds with other techniques on other phenomena that occur during an accident. These systems allow the risks regarding chemical plants to be calculated in a cost effective way. These systems are now in use by a large number of chemical companies and public authorities all over the world. The experience gained from this widespread use supports rapid further development of these techniques. In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, quantitative information is designated as being helpful, but other criteria are usually used to arrive at a planning decision. Additional differences are caused by the fact that some countries have a permit system while others do not. Despite all these different approaches the final result, in terms of the lay-out of chemical plants and the zoning around them does, not vary significantly. It is therefore a difference in means more than in objectives. There are several other problems related to hazardous materials, such as transport risks and risks to the environment, that gradually gain more attention as the extent of their seriousness becomes more apparent.