Industrial development is essential to improvement of the standard of
living in all countries. People's health and the environment can be
affected, directly or indirectly by routine waste discharges or by
accidents. A series of recent major industrial accidents and the effect
of pollution highlighted, once again, the need for better management of
routine and accidental risks. Moreover, the existence of natural hazards
complicate even more the situation in any given region. In the past
effort to cope with these risks, if made at all, have been largely on a
plant by plant basis; some plants are well equipped to manage
environmental and health hazards, while others are not. Managing the
hazards of modern technological systems has become a key activity in
highly industrialised countries. Decision makers are often confronted
with complex issues concerning economic and social development,
industrialisation and associated infrastructure needs, population and
land use planning. Such issues have to be addressed in such a way that
ensures that public health will not be disrupted or substantially
degraded. Due to the increasing complexity of technological systems and
the higher geographical density of punctual hazard sources, new
methodologies and a novel approach to these problems are challenging
risk managers and regional planers. Risks from these new complex
technological systems are inherently different form those addressed by
the risk managers for decades ago.