Application for the Reassessment of a Hazardous Substance under ...

Appendix H: Qualitative Descriptors for Risk/Benefit AssessmentQualitative descriptors are indicative only and they are primarily intended to be used to rankrisks and benefits for the purposes of balancing risks and costs against benefits, and so thatrisks can be prioritised for management. The ‗descriptor‘ words should not be seen in anyabsolute senses – they are simply a means of differentiating levels of significance.Assessing risks, costs and benefits qualitatively1.1. This section describes how ERMA New Zealand staff and the Authority address thequalitative assessment of risks, costs and benefits. Risks and benefits are assessed byestimating the magnitude and nature of the possible effects and the likelihood of theiroccurrence. For each effect, the combination of these two components determinesthe level of the risk associated with that effect, which is a two dimensional concept.Because of lack of data, risks are often presented as singular results. In reality, theyare better represented by ‗families‘ of data which link probability with differentlevels of outcome (magnitude).1.2. The magnitude of effect is described in terms of the element that might be affected.The qualitative descriptors for magnitude of effect are surrogate measures that shouldbe used to gauge the end effect or the ‗what if‘ element. Tables H4.1 and H4.2contain generic descriptors for magnitude of adverse and beneficial effect. Thesedescriptors are examples only, and their generic nature means that it may be difficultto use them in some particular circumstances. They are included here to illustratehow qualitative tables may be used to represent levels of adverse and beneficialeffect.Table H4.1 Magnitude of adverse effect (risks and costs)Descriptor Examples of descriptions - AdverseMinimalMinorModerateMild reversible short term adverse health effects to individuals in highly localised areaHighly localised and contained environmental impact, affecting a few (less than ten)individuals members of communities of flora or fauna, no discernible ecosystem impactLocal/regional short-term adverse economic effects on small organisations (businesses,individuals), temporary job lossesNo social disruptionMild reversible short term adverse health effects to identified and isolated groupsLocalised and contained reversible environmental impact, some local plant or animalcommunities temporarily damaged, no discernible ecosystem impact or species damageRegional adverse economic effects on small organisations (businesses, individuals) lastingless than six months, temporary job lossesPotential social disruption (community placed on alert)Minor irreversible health effects to individuals and/or reversible medium term adversehealth effects to larger (but surrounding) community (requiring hospitalisation)Measurable long term damage to local plant and animal communities, but no obviousspread beyond defined boundaries, medium term individual ecosystem damage, no speciesdamageMedium term (one to five years) regional adverse economic effects with some nationalimplications, medium term job lossesSome social disruption (e.g. people delayed)Dichlorvos reassessment – application Page 381 of 436