An overview of methodologies for hazard rating of industrial sites

This report provides an overview of hazard rating systems used by competent authorities in various United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) member countries for prioritising resources and directing attention to chemical hazard sites and industries where it is most needed. The report describes each country's hazard rating system and shows the different uses and approaches, without highlighting or making recommendations on a preferred system. The purpose of the report is to give UNECE countries insight into various approaches as they seek to establish or modify their systems in the future to support effective implementation of chemical accident prevention and preparedness policy. The information provided in this report is a summary of the responses received from UNECE countries (as well as one international body) to a survey distributed by the UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (Industrial Accidents Convention) and the Major Accident Hazards Bureau of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. For this reason, this document should be an encouraging input to countries which have not yet established their own rating systems but are considering it.