Citation

Giannici B, Galluzzo M. Reliab. Eng. 1983; 5(1): 37-45.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1983, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0143-8174(83)90017-3

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

If society as a whole is to determine a 'socially acceptable level of risk', all implications must be carefully considered: the business point of view, the safety demand of workers, as well as the benefits gained by the community thanks to the risky activity. Thus the agreed safety level cannot be modified through unilateral analyses. Regulations should be able to impose the observation of the agreement. Consequently, the amount of the refunds that society claims should not depend on very subjective, highly emotional and difficult issues like the value of a life or the damages due to toxic releases. A 'condition of fair refunds' is given as a relation between the penalties imposed on the companies and the costs for preventing damages.