Abstract
This paper describes the results of an assessment of user needs in interconnected critical infrastructures. The emphasis is on the needs of governmental agencies esponsible for overseeing the risk management practices of enterprises dealing with major accident potential. The case is the orwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) and their role in creating oversight and coordination between different
stakeholders in areas where several industrial enterprises are located in highly concentrated areas. The risks in such areas includes the potential for domino effects within the area, as well as potentially serious consequences for other critical infrastructures and societal functions. The overall risk may thus be greater than the risks of each individual enterprise. Several industrial actors, different societal sectors and different regulators will be involved in a complex process of governing the individual and accumulated
risks. Indicators for both risk and resilience within such an area will therefore require collaboration and exchange of information between several organizations. The main user needs identified are the following:
1. More continuous follow-up of risks. Currently, the main source of information about risk comes from the direct supervision of companies and areas. However, supervisory authorities can only perform a limited number of direct supervisions per year. A set of risk indicators allowing for more continuous monitoring of risks would enable regulators and supervisory authorities to have broader and more updated information about risk.
2. Risk informed selection of topics of supervision. Better indicators would allow for a more informed selection of supervisory activities, thereby ensuring that the emphasis is placed on the most important topics.
3. Risk-based selection of objects for supervision. In order to make the most of the available resources, the supervisory activity should be focused on the companies or areas where the risk is the highest. Indicators providing supervisory authorities with an improved understanding of risk would be an important improvement in this respect. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 700621.
stakeholders in areas where several industrial enterprises are located in highly concentrated areas. The risks in such areas includes the potential for domino effects within the area, as well as potentially serious consequences for other critical infrastructures and societal functions. The overall risk may thus be greater than the risks of each individual enterprise. Several industrial actors, different societal sectors and different regulators will be involved in a complex process of governing the individual and accumulated
risks. Indicators for both risk and resilience within such an area will therefore require collaboration and exchange of information between several organizations. The main user needs identified are the following:
1. More continuous follow-up of risks. Currently, the main source of information about risk comes from the direct supervision of companies and areas. However, supervisory authorities can only perform a limited number of direct supervisions per year. A set of risk indicators allowing for more continuous monitoring of risks would enable regulators and supervisory authorities to have broader and more updated information about risk.
2. Risk informed selection of topics of supervision. Better indicators would allow for a more informed selection of supervisory activities, thereby ensuring that the emphasis is placed on the most important topics.
3. Risk-based selection of objects for supervision. In order to make the most of the available resources, the supervisory activity should be focused on the companies or areas where the risk is the highest. Indicators providing supervisory authorities with an improved understanding of risk would be an important improvement in this respect. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 700621.