Jeremy M. Gernand, PhD, CSP, CRE
Associate Professor of Environmental Health and Safety Engineering
John and Willie Leone Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering
College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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What is an acceptable risk?

The difference between the risk analyst’s idea of “acceptable risk” and the public’s is similar to the difference between a physicist’s idea of “work” and the colloquial meaning.

“Acceptable” in this case does not mean okay or good. It only means that temporarily, continued investment in risk mitigation may no longer be the top priority in comparison to other risks.

As other risks are mitigated, then a previously accepted risk, may once again, become unacceptable.

7 September 2021

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