Citation

Enserink B. Safety Sci. 2001; 39(1-2): 93-105.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Infrastructure planning in densely populated areas like the Netherlands is a complex endeavour. Despite high construction costs, underground constructions and tunnelling have become popular solutions in highly congested areas as they can mitigate many of the negative external effects of infrastructures. Under such circumstances integral assessment of alternatives is considered important but in practice uncommon. In the Netherlands, for instance safety issues are largely neglected in planning procedures. In this paper a participatory Quick Scan approach is presented: a methodology for strategic impact assessment that can be used to help select promising solutions in the early stages of decision making. Special consideration is given to the methodological issues of which risks should be taken into account when considering an integral assessment. It is argued that involving representatives of safety management organisations in the problem formulation stage guarantees attention for safety issues and regulations throughout the design and planning processes.