A PROCEDURE FOR A RISK BASED HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT AS PART OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is often an expensive yet effective decision-making tool increasingly used by a proponent to establish the extent of an Impact of a proposed project on the Environment. In many countries, including South Africa, it is a legal requirement. Health and development are intimately related and a consequence of insufficient development may be poverty resulting in potential health related problems. Since water and sanitation are vital in any community, developments that have an impact on the quality of water need to be evaluated not only from an environmental perspective but a health perspective as well. A Risk-Based Health Impact Assessment is a process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the health effects of developmental proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made. This paper is an attempt to provide a means of determining the health risks arising out of a project. A thorough procedure to identify and mitigate these risks will enable the relevant authorities to make decisions based on sound data. The use of a risk-based Health Impact Assessment in development planning is still in its infancy in South Africa and most other developing countries. This paper also aims to provide a generic method, which if used consistently by practitioners, will enable decision makers to easily compare results and experiences from various projects. This ultimately leads to a properly integrated Environmental Impact Assessment that will be of benefit to both the developer and stakeholders involved.