Public Participation in Governance of Industrial Safety Risks : An Uneasy Journey

Abstract

This open access book contributes to the increasing trend toward greater public participation in decision-making in many areas of public life, particularly in the field of the environment and sustainable development. It describes the outcome of a two-day workshop, organized by the Foundation for an Industrial Safety Culture in 2023, that addresses the continuing sensitivities surround the impact of hazardous industrial activities. Public Participation in Governance of Industrial Safety Risks brings together international academic experts as well as industrial and institutional representatives to shed light on the topics discussed during this workshop. Through the viewpoints of experts from various disciplines, industrial sectors, and countries, it offers an opportunity to gain a better grasp of the multiplicity and complexity of participatory processes and to understand their expected benefits, their drawbacks, and potential pitfalls. The work supports the making of better-informed decisions, especially by industrial or regulatory actors, to engage or not with public participation.