Center for Risk Excellence Web Site

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Center for Risk Excellence used the Internet to support development of integrated risk programs and risk-based decision-making.

Need/Opportunity

The DOE Center for Risk Excellence (CRE) was one of several Centers of Excellence established in 1997 by the DOE Headquarters Office of Environmental Management. During its period of operation through the beginning of fiscal year 2002, the CRE provided support to the evaluation of risk requirements, guidelines, and policies for DOE's Environmental Management program, served as an integrating focal point of science-based information for risk practitioners and others interested in risk analysis, and facilitated stakeholder and other-agency involvement in the risk evaluation process. The CRE web site served as a central element in carrying out the Center's mission by providing an online resource for the community of risk professionals and interested stakeholders.

Approach

• Provide an online technical library of risk tools, documents, and other resources for practitioners
• Provide risk news and a calendar of conferences, publications, and other relevant events
• Provide online risk-related information for public education
• Publish an online version of the Center's newsletter

The Technical Resources section of the CRE web site provided information important to risk practitioners across the DOE complex. Risk assessment tools were made available, along with risk-related documents and links to other key online resources. News and a calendar of events, including conferences and publications, kept users informed of important developments. The "What Is Risk?" section offered an extensive introduction to basic risk concepts through slide presentations, fact sheets, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), a glossary of terms, and Citizen's Guides for a variety of topics. Also featured was the online version of Risk Excellence Notes, the Center's newsletter for government, academia, and industry.

Results

The CRE web site became a major online risk resource for DOE, with more than 100,000 page visits by more than 14,000 external visitors. The site enjoyed a large proportion of repeat visitors, indicating its success in achieving an "online community." More than 8,000 copies of the Risk Excellence Notes newsletter were downloaded, representing a significant CRE cost savings for production and distribution.

Benefits

• Extended CRE community-building efforts to a wide audience
• Provided timely access to risk information and resources that lead to more efficient programs
• Provided the public with a convenient tool to learn about risk assessment, management, and communication
• Facilitated stakeholder involvement in the evaluation process