m66.    How can risks be analyzed?

Risk analysis involves identifying hazards and evaluating their potential for occurrence. Using this and other information helps to determine options and make decisions about reducing or eliminating risks. The overall reliability of any technological system is the product of two factors:

Risk Benefit analysis is one method for making such evaluations. The desirability quotient of any system measures the societal benefits against the societal risks. For instance, x-rays have small societal risks and large societal benefits; therefore have a large desirability quotient.

e20.    What are environmental hazards and risks?

g10.   What are earthquakes?

g11.    What is volcanism?