Risk = Hazard + Outrage: A Formula for Effective Risk Communication
Quantitative Risk Communication: Explaining the Data
Risk = Hazard + Outrage: A Formula for Effective Risk Communication
This Peter Sandman video, designed for anyone concerned with the public’s perception of risk in the workplace, community, or environment, presents useful and practical information for developing a company-wide risk communication strategy.
Topics include the 20 components of outrage that determine how people will react to a risk and practical suggestions for preventing or minimizing each component; the four stages of risk communication within an organization; and the complexities of risk communication. The tapes are marked for appropriate discussion breaks with suitable topics suggested.
The two-tape set (combined viewing time: 111 minutes) includes a user’s guide, supplemental handout materials, and bibliography.
The “original” AIHA video on risk communication will assist you and your organization in developing a risk communication strategy.
What you will learn:
- The seven key conclusions about hazard and outrage.
- Four stages of risk communication within organizations.
- New insights into the complexities of risk communication.
Course Components
- Videos (1 hour, 50 minutes combined), handouts, and user’s guide.
- #168-CC-91V (VHS Version)
- #198-CC-91V (PAL Version)
Comment from the real world:
To: Safety listserve
Subject: Risk = Hazard + Outrage
I’ve used Peter Sandman’s video (on the above subject) with my staff and with my hazardous waste classes. The response is uniformly good. I think we have seen a real change in the way our staff deal with their clients. They think about how they will be perceived as well as how technically accurate they are.
When we began talking about reducing the number of film badges we issue (because we have tons of data for certain groups showing no exposure above background), one of our techs said, “I bet people will think they are less well protected if we take their badges away. We'll have to deal with that up front.” Things have worked reasonably smoothly as a result. I recommend this video highly.
Fay M. Thompson, Ph.D., C.I.H.
(thomp006@maroon.tc.umn.edu)
Director, Environmental Health and Safety
University of Minnesota
Quantitative Risk Communication: Explaining the Data
Parts per billion, confidence limits, conservativeness, and extremely low probabilities are intrinsically difficult to explain to laypeople, especially when concern and mistrust are high. This training video by pre-eminent risk communication expert Peter M. Sandman offers concrete advice to professionals who must try to explain risk data via written and oral presentation to employees, neighbors, and other nonexperts. In an 87-minute presentation, Dr. Sandman offers three key strategies for explaining risk information: motivation, simplification, and orientation. Available either in VHS or a PAL version for international use.
What you will learn:
- Ten ways to simplify language and information
- Six points to remember about simplifying graphics
- Nine approaches to orient your audience
- Thirteen ways to explain uncertainty
- Seven checkpoints — “Is this a good risk comparison?”
Course Components:
- Video (87 minutes), audio cassette, tape guide, handout materials.
- #190-CC-94V (VHS Version)
- #191-CC-94V (PAL Version)
Download this video
AIHA reports that “Quantitative Risk Communication: Explaining the Data” is currently out-of-stock, and there are no plans at the moment to produce more. So, with AIHA’s permission, the entire video can now be downloaded without charge from this site. It is a 158-MB WMV (Windows media video) file.
(Note: According to Wikipedia: “Software that can play WMV files include Windows Media Player, The KMPlayer, PowerDVD, RealPlayer, MPlayer, VLC Media Player, Zoom Player and Media Player Classic.” For Macs: “Microsoft currently endorses the 3rd party Flip4Mac WMV, a QuickTime Component which allows Macintosh users to play WMV files in any player that uses the QuickTime framework.”)
Clicking on the link below should start the video playing if your browser is set up to automatically play WMVs. If not, please right click on the link and choose “Save Target As” or “Save Link As” and download the file to play locally in your own player.
Implementing Risk Communication: Overcoming the Barriers
Many understand the principles of effective risk communication: openness, dialogue, accountability, etc. But three sets of barriers often make these principles difficult to implement. Cognitive barriers range from the belief that no one is especially concerned to the belief that open communication may fuel the controversy or lead to liability suits. Among the organizational barriers are opposition to the new approach from an immediate superior or elsewhere in the organization, an internal climate that makes external openness difficult, and skepticism by employees that management really intends the new approach. Psychological barriers include anger at activists and feeling insulted by community mistrust. This video identifies major barriers preventing companies and agencies from implementing risk communication programs, and proposes strategies to overcome or circumvent each barrier.
What you will learn:
- Four keys to successful risk communication
- Ten cognitive barriers to risk communication to avoid
- Ten approaches to overcoming organizational barriers to risk communication.
Course Components:
- Video (75 minutes), audio cassette, tape guide.
- #192-CC-94V (VHS Version)
- #193-CC-94V (PAL Version)
How to Order
Order these videos from the American Industrial Hygiene Association:
“Risk = Hazard + Outrage: A Formula for Effective Risk Communication”
Instructions if the video links above don’t work:
The American Industrial Hygiene Association has a practice of changing the URLs for products it sells. Don’t ask me why. If the link doesn’t work, therefore, go to the AIHA “Search Catalog” page. Under “Product type,” choose “all.” Under “Author name contains,” type in “Sandman.” Then click on Search. This should take you to a list of all five Sandman products (DVD/videos/book) sold by AIHA. You can buy the one(s) you want from this page, or you can click on the one(s) you’re interested in for more information.
Or contact them at:
American Industrial Hygiene Association
2700 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 250
Fairfax, VA 22031
Phone: (703) 849-8888
FAX: (703) 207-3561
