ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Tolerable risk guidelines are used to guide the process of examining and judging the significance of estimated risks. Some principles for risk evaluation are summarized, including the topics of risk perception, individual and societal concerns, equity and efficiency, and pure and applied criteria. The U.K. Health and Safety Executive’s general Tolerability of Risk (TOR) framework is presented and interpreted for project-specific application. Some important ways in which differences in the legal system affect the implementation of tolerable or acceptable risk guidelines are discussed. The US Army Corps of Engineers’ tolerable risk guidelines are summarized as an example of the application of TOR to dam safety. Some variations in tolerable of acceptable risk guidelines in use for dams in other countries and some practical considerations that affect their implementation are discussed.
