Laws That Mandate Risk Communication

A number of laws and regulations in the United States mandate risk communication as part of the risk assessment and risk management process. Although these laws run to several volumes, making it difficult for anyone outside of the legal profession to really understand them, those who are communicating risk need to be aware of the laws affecting risk communication efforts and what these laws entail. This chapter highlights some of the major federal laws within the United States and selected international standards. The laws include comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act, emergency planning and community righthtohknow act, national environmental policy act, occupational safety and health act, and resource conservation and recovery act. Check with federal agencies, state agencies, local governments, national and international standards organizations, and your own organization before beginning a risk communication effort to ensure that you understand and are in compliance with the requirements.