3. What is the point of characterizing these issues as part of a hazard study?

A study of the presence and composition of the issues (external interests to be protected) around an industrial site is used to assess the severity of an accident scenario, particularly in terms of the people exposed (c f. Synthesizing risks [FIC 0207] ).

The scale used to assess the severity of the human consequences of an off-site accident considers the level of effect (significant, lethal, irreversible) in relation to the number of people involved.