Introduction
The Institute for Risk Research (IRR) was established in 1982
to conduct research on risk management and to establish a knowledge
base to assist Canadian governments, public organizations and industry
in risk management decisions and policies. Research and development
on measures of safety, risk management of dangerous goods, safety
of blood systems, etc., provision of membership services for risk
experts in Canada, risk publications and educational programs have
all contributed to the mission.
Mission
To promote safety for Canadians
by improving the understanding of risk and risk policy decisions.
Deregulation and other trends in the 90s
have required all organizations, including the IRR, to reexamine
the way they do business. Since its inception, IRR has developed
a number of Services and
Capabilities that reflect "value for money" and are
described below.
Given the new realities of doing more with
less, IRR believes that effective risk management is required
by the current trends in computerization, globalization and downsizing.
In fact, the new realities make risk management even more necessary
for organizations to avoid catastrophic losses due to oversights,
omissions and other management failures.
Risk management invariably requires interdisciplinary
activities that draw on a wide variety of experts and need a
successful framework for integrating results within the organization's
culture. The IRR can provide a unique service because of the
wide network of members and expertise as well as extensive practical
experience.
The IRR functions as a network of members
with a wide range of expertise in environmental studies, toxicology,
philosophy, engineering and biology. By drawing on its membership,
the IRR can successfully address current risk policy issue which
are often characterized as:
- requiring an interdisciplinary approach
to problem solving
- having high levels of uncertainty;
and
- involving
social and political judgements.
To maintain its role as an independent and
credible advisor on risk issues, the IRR has strict policies
on publication and peer review.
All final reports are copyrighted by the
IRR and become public documents.
In special circumstances, publication of a report is delayed
until is presentation at a scheduled public hearing or forum.
Any IRR report with public policy implications
and reports resulting from contract research undergo peer review
by an independent panel or two or three IRR members (see Panel
Review Process below).
Strengths
High Quality,
Interdisciplinary Research & Development
The IRR has a record of success at independent,
high quality, and timely reports. IRR also has an impressive publications
record (books, research reports and
papers). The IRR's extensive experience with interdisciplinary
work has earned it an international reputation.
Highly Capable Personnel (Members and Staff)
The IRR has a very strong set of members
and an excellent and highly qualified staff. The IRR has done
research in a wide variety of areas from principles for risk
management to detailed evaluation criteria for setting toxicological
criteria. Through its activities (organizing
conferences, offering short courses, conducting specific risk
assessments and review of risk analyses studies, etc), the
IRR has developed a broad base of experience and capability.
Unique Source of Independent
and Credible Advice
The access to IRR
members, who are leaders in their
respective fields is the most important strength of the IRR.
With the experience and expertise of the IRR membership in
risk management, risk analysis and management systems, the
IRR is able to provide the "right" solutions to risk
problems.
The independence of the IRR provides for
a neutral environment for the analysis of risk problems and
the credibility of the resulting recommendations.
Ability to work in Partnership
The IRR has demonstrated ability to work
in partnership with a diverse range of organizations and individuals
such as:
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Government:
- Agriculture Canada, Environment
Canada, Transport Canada and Health Canada
- Alberta Health
- Canadian Coast Guard
- Alberta Labour
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment
and Energy
- Ontario Ministry of Transportation
- Quebec Ministry of the Environment
- Regional Municipality of Waterloo
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Canadian Corporations:
- Bovar
- Dow Chemical Canada Inc.
- Imperial Oil Ltd.
- NOVA Corporation of Alberta
- Hydro One
- Inco Ltd
- Petro-Canada
- Shell Canada Ltd
- Syncrude Canada Ltd
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Consultants:
- Beak Consultants
- Cantox Environmental Inc
- Golder Associates
- GlobalTox International Consultants
- Jacques Whitford Environment Ltd
- O'Connor Associates Environmental
Inc
- Thorne Butte Decision Partners
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Others:
- Canadian Petroleum Products Institute
- Industrial Accident Prevention
Association
- Major Industrial Accidents Council
of Canada
- Canadian Chemical Producers' Association
- Health care professionals
- Lawyers
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Education and Training
IRR has an edge over other organizations
because of its location at the University
of Waterloo and its close proximity
to other universities such as the University of Guelph, Wilfrid
Laurier University, McMaster University, University of Toronto
and the University of Western Ontario. The IRR is able to transfer
its knowledge of leading-edge risk management techniques and
methods gained from hands on risk management and development
experience.
Services and
Capabilities
The IRR provides service in three areas.
These services can be customized for an individual situation.
- Consulting Services in Risk Management
- Training and Educations
- Research
Most IRR projects are interdisciplinary
in nature and many include collaboration with IRR members from
outside the University
of Waterloo. The IRR has often entered
into partnerships with consultants and other organizations so
that the unique expertise of the IRR can be combined with the
capabilities of others. IRR's past activities can be categorized
into the following topic areas. In each case, there has been
value for money for the client organization.
- Environment
- Human Health
- Industrial Safety
- Risk Management and Communication
- Transportation
- Waste Management
Nature
of Research Contracts
The IRR will complete contract research
projects that are consistent with its mission and objectives.
The IRR does not take on routine consulting work. All contracts
have some novel research aspects. However, the IRR will engage
in contract work that does not have a large research component
if it provides an opportunity to address issues of public interest
that require independent treatment.
Most IRR projects are multi-disciplinary
in nature and many include collaboration with IRR members from
outside the University of Waterloo. Contracts usually take on
one of the three forms:
- An original study of a particular issue
of risk assessment, risk communication or risk management.
- An independent review of a study carried
out by an organization other than the IRR.
- An IRR member serves on a commission
or blue-ribbon panel that provides advice on issues of public
interest.
Panel
Review Process
As a matter of policy
all IRR research reports (whether work is supported by contract
or grant) with public
policy implications undergo peer review by an independent panel
of two or three IRR members or affiliates. The panel's review
is included at the beginning of the Final Report as "advice
to the reader."
An IRR research manager is responsible for
managing the review process. The reviewers are provided with
a Draft Final Report prepared by the final investigators. Reviewers
individually submit their comments to the IRR. The IRR research
manager circulates the unedited comments to the other reviewers
for their information. The comments of the reviewers are combined
and summarized by the IRR research manager to a single document
called the Draft IRR Panel Report. This compiled review does
not identify the authorship of the individual review comments.
The Draft IRR Panel Report is distributed
to the reviewers, the client and the principal investigators
for information and comment. If necessary, the Draft IRR Panel
Report is modified by the research manager based on the comments
received. The final version of the IRR Panel Report is then sent
to the reviewers for their approval. The revised report together
with the reviewers' comments comprise a complete contract report.
The duration of the review process varies
according to the volume of material to be reviewed, schedule
of reviewers, etc, but generally requires a minimum of four to
six weeks to complete.
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