Data for Risk Assessment Management or Mismanagement. Julie C. Cozzie, Kathleen E. Bauman, and Kim A. Nelson, 2120 Washington Blvd, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22204
The allocations of resources to manage the data that is so meticulously collected in the field is too often left to circumstance. A person who has some available time may be unfortunately designated the data manager. This individual may have received no special training or be poorly trained, and may not have an interest in data management. In this situation, the fate of the risk assessment is bleak at best. This article is designed to provide a simple overview of how to manage data for use in risk assessments and identifies some issues that absolutely must be resolved prior to data management initiation. Fundamental to data management is the right combination of personality traits, tools, and skills. First, attention to detail, thoroughness, a desire for excellence, and the ability to meet project deadlines are mandatory traits, and at a minimum the data manager must check his own work for accuracy. Second, a complete understanding of how the data will be used and what it represents is required. Although the data manager need not be a chemist or a risk assessor, a basic knowledge of the risk assessment process is necessary. Finally, the necessary data processing tools are essential. Automation is not necessarily the cure-all that it was originally thought to be; the adage "garbage in, garbage out" can certainly hold true in impetuous data management automation. This practical guide presents an evaluation of the range of issues involved in data management for risk assessment such as: evaluating qualified data, determining site-related data, selecting background data, provide a simple overview of how to manage data for use in risk assessments and identifies some issues that absolutely must be resolved prior to data management initiation. Fundamental to data management is the right . . . . . . . . [RiskWorld Note: Submitted abstract incomplete]