When health, safety, or environmental risks take center stage, communicating risk information can be a daunting challenge. The increased visibility of global terrorism and other catastrophic emergencies underscores the potential for human tragedy--along with economic, social, and political consequences. Communication must be targeted, understandable, and effective without inadvertently provoking hostility and mistrust.For over 10 years, Risk Communication, a handbook of strategies and guidance for conveying risk information effectively, has proven a valuable resource on areas such as current laws, stakeholder participation methods, and working with the news media. Managers, scientists, engineers, students, communication specialists, health care professionals, agency representatives, and consultants will benefit from contemporary, practical advice on what to do and what to avoid for successful risk communication.

The book is divided into five self-contained parts. Part I provides background information to understand basic theories and practices of risk communication. Part II explains how to plan a communication effort. Part III describes how to put risk communication into action. Part IV discusses how to evaluate risk communication efforts, including techniques to measure success. Part V discusses communicating risk during and after a health or environmental emergency, from bioterrorism attacks to mad cow disease.

Outstanding features include the melding of sound, scientific research with practical, hands-on advice from risk practitioners with over 20 years experience in the field. The book is meant to be used as an introduction to the field as well as a refresher and reference book for those communicating environmental, safety, and health risks in government, industry, and academia.