C8.1.3 Harm
It is not always easy to define ‘harm’ in environmental terms. Occasionally there are specific examples laid out in regulations, but often it is a subjective notion.
Risk Assessment is a relatively new concept in environmental terms. Within the field of Health and Safety, it has been a legal requirement for many years.
The Health & Safety Executive produce guidance regarding risk assessment, which may be of interest to anyone who does not have a safety background. This is available on the HSE website: www.hse.gov.uk
In recent years, there has been a shift from reactive measures to protect the environment to more proactive approaches aimed at preventing or minimising environmental damage and loss. This change in emphasis has been reflected in the use of risk assessment as a tool for environmental decision making.