The criteria of acceptable risk in Russia

There do not exist acceptable risk criteria of any industrial activity in Russia. The authors analysed worldwide criteria of acceptable risk, industrial accident frequencies in Russia, and the real state that the technological equipment is in. Risk-reduction measures would require a significant amount of material input in Russia. In the present condition of the Russian economy this is practically impossible. For that reason, the establishment of risk levels of 10^?6 or less (fatalities per year) for the population living near major hazards plants (that would correspond to international practice) cannot be arranged for all industrial activities at present. Therefore, the following structure of zoning can be offered for individual risks. For existing potentially dangerous objects: (1) a risk level larger than 10^?4 deaths per year is a zone of inadmissible risk; (2) a risk level between 10^?4 and 10^?5 deaths per year is a zone of rigid risk control; (3) a risk level below 10^?5 deaths per year is a zone of acceptable risk. For new plants: the risk levels should be reduced one order of magnitude for each zone. Taking into account the results of the analysis of emergencies in Russia, the criteria of societal risk are also presented.