Risk management experiences in prioritization of environmental problems in the Republic of Croatia

The paper presents a short review of the work which, among others, has been done within the Case Study Zagreb Project (CSZ Project) developed in the framework of the Inter-Agency Programme on the Assessment and Management of Health and Environmental Risks from Energy and Other Complex Industrial Systems sponsored by four UN organizations UNEP, WHO, IAEA and UNIDO, related to risk assessment of major industrial accidents. An steps of the Rapid Risk Assessment (RRA) Methodology implementation according to the Manual for the Classification and Prioritization of Risks Due to Major Accidents in Process and Related Industries, issued by IAEA, are described, including the interpretation of the results. This methodology was recommended to the CSZ Project team by the IAEA experts. A short elaboration of preliminary acceptability criteria of technological risks, established for the purpose of classifying risks in order to select facilities requiring detailed assessment on a risk priority basis, is given too. The RRA Methodology applied in the Zagreb Area provided a preliminary, generalized and quantitative overview of risks due to major industrial accidents. The results obtained show that relatively a small number of surveyed facilities would require an additional, more detailed analysis and possible implementation of risk reduction measures. This is assessed as a direct consequence of relatively good spatial distribution of dangerous technologies with regard to residential areas.