Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698749004497.pdf (Malaysia)
Rare Earth Refinery Plant: The Need for Effective Risk Communication Hoong, PhD, DABMP, FInstP, AMM PhD, DABMP, FInstP, AMM Prof. Ng Kwan--Hoong, Prof. Ng Kwan Department of Biomedical Imaging Department of Biomedical Imaging and Medical Physics Unit and Medical Physics Unit University of Malaya University of Malaya ngkh@um.edu.my ngkh@um.edu.my JAWATANKUASA PILIHAN KHAS MENGENAI PROJEK LYNAS ADVANCED MATERIALS PLANT (LAMP) Mei 21, 2012 A bit about my credentials…… A bit about my credentials • Senior Professor at the University of Malaya • Senior Consultant at the University of Malaya Medical Centre • Qualified and trained in medical physics • More than 30 years of experience in radiation protection, radiation dosimetry and medical imaging • Consult for IAEA, WHO, ICNIRP • Leading research initiative in risk communication (in addition to other research areas) Ng KH Crazy truck Crazy truck Play You have made an instant risk assessment which starts immediately from cause (the truck) to effect (something bad happening).
Ng KH Your decisions to act are based almost entirely on your own images, perceptions and judgments.
Ng KH Trust Trust The process that leads you to take action based on your images of the consequences of radiation is the same process that occurs when someone is confronted with a radiation issue and reacts with concern or anger Your decisions are primarily based on your level of trust and confidence in the information source; your sense of fairness; and your level of control and choice over the hazard Ng KH Trust Trust Your decisions are only secondly based on the information provided If you don’t trust the information source or the information provided, you will (quite rationally) make decisions based on peer group, media, and information available on the internet and through social media Ng KH The Effect of the Media The Effect of the Media Ng KH Die lah, radiation is coming !
Ng KH Common Basis of Radiation Fears Common Basis of Radiation Fears • Fearful images of consequences, such as cancer and death • Dread and expectations of catastrophic consequences • No way to know if you have been exposed • If you know, it may be too late • You do not know what will happen, but you know it will be bad • Possible effects on children and future generations • Possible long-term harm to property and property values • You have no control and there is no escape HAZARD AND RISK HAZARD AND RISK • Driving a car is a potential health hazard.
Driving a car fast presents an increased risk.

The higher the speed, the greater the risk of accident.

• Every human activity has an associated risk.

It is possible to diminish risks by avoiding, physically controlling, insuring against, or monitoring and communicating about specific activities (e.g.

living in an earthquake zone), but one cannot abolish risk entirely.

Adapted from WHO Adapted from WHO Ng KH Hazard and Risk Hazard and Risk • The hazard is electricity.

.
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The risk is the likelihood that a worker might be electrocuted because of exposure to electrical wires that is not properly insulated.

(Immediate effect) • The hazard is overhead power lines.

The risk is that long term exposure to low level electo- magnetic fields from power lines has been associated with increased incidence of childhood leukemia.

(Chronic effect) Ng KH Risk Acceptability Risk Acceptability • In the real world, there is no such thing as a zero risk.
• But Government is required to manage risks to the population and to the environment to acceptable levels.
Ng KH Cognitive map of hazards Unknown Risk Delayed Risk New Risk Perceived Perceived Perceived Perceived Risk Benefit Risk Benefit Risk Benefit Risk Benefit LOWLOWLOWLOW • DNA technology Microwave oven • X-ray • Antibiotics • Caffeine • Aspirin • Vaccines • Controllable Equitable Voluntary Smoking • Alcohol • • Mobile Phones Skiing • Bicycles • Motorcycles • Perceived Perceived Perceived Perceived Risk Benefit Risk Benefit Risk Benefit Risk Benefit HIGHHIGHHIGHHIGH Adapted from Slovic P: Science 236:280, 1987 • Pesticides • Asbestos insulation • Radioactive waste • Mobile Phone Masts Uncontrollable Catastrophic Involuntary • Fires in skyscrapers Nuclear weapons • • Railroad collision • Aviation • Car accidents Immediate Risk Known Risk Old Risk • Hand guns Ng KH Living with uncertainties Living with uncertainties Ignorance Ignorance Uncertainty Uncertainty Anxiety Anxiety Fear Fear Aggression and Violence Aggression and Violence Living with radiation Ng KH PERCEPTION OF RISK PERCEPTION OF RISK Ng KH Risk Perception • Experts and non-experts – perceive risks differently – but according to internally logical criteria • We live in a risk averse society; people want zero risk or proof of no risk; and they want to be consulted • People will not tolerate risks without benefits (Not In My Back Yard is more complex than simple opposition for opposition’s sake) • • If there is a power line near to their home but it supplies power to another suburb, people see that they are exposed to hazard of electro-magnetic fields for no benefit People want some involvement and consultation /control on decision making Ng KH Risk Perception • Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) syndrome is actually a complex phenomenon* •People feel they can only say “NO!” because they have no other way to influence the issue * Kemp R (1990), Why not in my backyard?
A radical interpretation of public opposition to the deep disposal of radioactive waste in the United Kingdom.

Environment and Planning A, 22, 1239 - 1258.

Kemp R (1992), The Politics of Radioactive Waste Disposal.

An International Perspective.

Manchester, Manchester University Press.
Ng KH Risk Perception Solution: Effective Risk Communication and Dialogue Ng KH Evolution of public and stakeholder involvement • 1950s: Public just wanted to be informed • 1960s &1970s: Public wanted to be heard before decision – beginning of public involvement – public hearings and testimony • 1980s: Public wanted to have impact on decision – consensus building – public dialogue – public a legitimate partner or stakeholder • 1990s: Need to identify stakeholders who are unaware – outreach • Today: Instantaneous stakeholder involvement on Internet & social media Ng KH The established field of expertise known as “risk communication” addresses the public and stakeholder perceptions of radiation, health and environmental risks in a planned and integrated manner.
Best practice is to engage and have dialogue with stakeholders of different perceptions of the risks to resolve their concerns.
Ng KH Old Model of Risk Communication Decide Announce Defend Abandon Risk Messages Ng KH Today’s 2-way Risk Communication Two way give and take Information exchange Generate new ideas, Uncover concerns Win-Win-Win Ng KH Flow of information related to Risk Flow of information related to Risk Government Government Agencies Agencies Scientists/ Scientists/ Experts Experts Professional Society Professional Society The Internet Social The Traditional Social Media Media Media Press Radio TV Politics Politics Public Public Personal Personal Contact Contact Ng KH Source: WHO Source: WHO Ng KH BUILDING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION EFFECTIVE RISK COMMUNICATION is concerned with both: •CONTENT, and •PROCESS BOTH MUST: •INSPIRE TRUST •BE ATTENTIVE to PEOPLE’S CONCERNS , and •MAINTAIN TRANSPARENCY THROUGH OPEN DIALOGUE THIS REQUIRES: •PLANNING, •SKILLS, and •INVESTMENT in TIME and RESOURCES Source: WHO Source: WHO Ng KH Source: WHO Source: WHO Ng KH CHALLENGES CHALLENGES Determine if there is a hazard from •• Determine if there is a hazard from radiation exposure and what the potential radiation exposure and what the potential health impact: health impact: risk assessment •• Recognize the Recognize the reasons public may be concerned: public may be concerned: reasons why the why the risk perception •• Implement policies that protect public Implement policies that protect public health and respond to public concerns: health and respond to public concerns: risk communication and risk management Ng KH MCMC - UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA RESEARCH COLLABORATION ON RISK COMMUNICATIONS Addressing public concern on radiofrequency exposure from wireless communication Ng KH Ng KH Some Errors Some Errors Ng KH DISTRUST DISTRUST Ng KH DISTRUST DISTRUST “Watching television for 4 hr a day can cause 10 times more radiation than what you will get from a rare earth refinery plant” Ng KH Where are we now?


Source: GSMA/MMF (2009) Risk Communication Guide for Mobile Phones and Base Stations.

GSMA / MMF, London/Brussels Ng KH Some recommendations Some recommendations 1.1.

Deal with the complacency about perceived Deal with the complacency about perceived which is leading to a crisis in risks which is leading to a crisis in risks communication and in Trust.

communication and in Trust.

Learn to communicate with diverse target 2.2.


Learn to communicate with diverse target such as parents of young children, audiences such as parents of young children, audiences the elderly, the concerned, and the confused.

the elderly, the concerned, and the confused.

Address this before the crisis escalates further.

3.3.

Address this before the crisis escalates further.

Ng KH Some recommendations Some recommendations 4.4.
Help to Raise Public Awareness Help to Raise Public Awareness –– the public the public should be helped to understand radiation and should be helped to understand radiation and units, e.g., Bq, Sv as familiar as with kg, m,°°C, etc.

C, etc.

units, e.g., Bq, Sv as familiar as with kg, m, Provide the Public with accurate and timely 5.5.
Provide the Public with accurate and timely e.g., background radiation level, Information –– e.g., background radiation level, Information international standards & regulations, international standards & regulations, environmental factors affecting health environmental factors affecting health Require Lynas to adopt best practice risk 6.6.
Require Lynas to adopt best practice risk Lynas should apply effective communication –– Lynas should apply effective communication way communication and best practice twotwo--way communication and best practice Mediator Find a Trusted Third Party Mediator 7.7.

Find a Trusted Third Party Ng KH Some recommendations Some recommendations a Modern 8.

Learn from Past Mistakes and Resource a Modern 8.
Learn from Past Mistakes and Resource Public and Stakeholder Engagement and Awareness Public and Stakeholder Engagement and Awareness investment in the Venture should be Programme –– investment in the Venture should be Programme matched by significant investment in effective risk matched by significant investment in effective risk communication communication Ng KH Thank you for listening to me Thank you for listening to me With thanks to Prof. Ray Kemp, PhD, MRTPI With thanks to Prof. Ray Kemp, PhD, MRTPI Adjunct Prof. of Risk Communication, Swinburne University of Adjunct Prof. of Risk Communication, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne Technology, Melbourne Hon.
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Risk Communication Group, Hon.

Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Risk Communication Group, University of Malaya University of Malaya Ng KH