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Precaution and Uncertainties

As “emerging risks” nanomaterials risk is practically evaluated by precautionary matrix as Swidd precautionary matrix. Besides some Safety factsheets are developed as well some guidelines to support these risk management process. But the current knowledge about information needed is mostly not sufficient enough to feed this matrix: level of uncertainty is the main risk analysis limitation. Waiting for research results on hazard, exposure and life cycle, risk management has to clearly point out the level and the identity of these uncertainties.

QCKA: How to use it?

Download QCKA excel Tab

Explore the 7 spreadsheets: description, 5 knowledge scale (organization, materials, exposition, hazards, lifecycle) and result TK. Each knowledge spreadsheet contains several items and your specific score.

You have to fill in at least the column entitled “Checked (1=true/0=false). You put 1 if you have the knowledge about the item concerned otherwise, you put 0. If there is any doubt about an answer (i.e. if the item is not perfectly known), you have to write 0. You can eventually add an observation or value of an item in the column “Observation”. The scores indicated below each spreadsheet are automatically calculated, as well as the final risk-index.

All fields must be filled in to get a correct usable result.

How to interpret the result?  Example Case:


 

The final outcome score is 53,52:

  • the global level of knowledge: “little”,
  • knowledge or capacities description : “low”,
  • specific percentage knowledge scale participation: “hazards”, “lifecycle” and “material” point out the main uncertainties.