First ever published guidelines on public risk management

Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global safety science leader, has published CAN/UL 2984, Management of Public Risks – Principles and Guidelines, providing guidance to organisations accountable for the management of public risk.

The paper aims to assist with risk-informed decision-making to decrease public harm. It sets out principles and provides guidance regarding the identification, analysis, evaluation and decision-making in the management of public risk.

Developed using a consensus-based standards process, the guidelines were carried out in association with balanced stakeholder representation including contributors from Canada,
United States, China, United Kingdom and Australia.

The guidelines were written primarily for organisations responsible for the management of public risk, such as public sector organisations, government departments and agencies and regulated entities, but the principles may also be applicable to others that indirectly support the management of public risk.

The document was sponsored by the National Public Safety Advisory Committee, which includes public safety regulators from the provinces and territories across Canada.

Maria Iafano, international standards manager, who led the initiative said that the guidelines meet the needs of different regulators who are responsible for managing public risk.

“UL undertook the activity to support the identified needs of regulators," Iafano said. "They identified a need for consistent language and definitions as well as a set of similar considerations they could refer to in support of their public risk management mandate."