ONE AGENCY USE OF RISK ASSESSMENT AND RISK COMMUNICATION

Few organizations have the courage to evaluate their own use of risk a ssessment (identifying hazards and estimating their probability and ma gnitude) and risk communication (interacting with internal and externa l stakeholder groups about risks). The USDA Animal and Plant Health In spection Service (APHIS) wants to enhance its overall risk analysis pr ocess for managing a wide range of risks to animals, plants, and human health. We gathered survey data for a baseline of APHIS professionals ' understanding and use of risk assessment and risk communication. APH IS professionals spend a surprisingly large share of their time commun icating about risks. They perceive that risk estimates influence decis ions, but that risk estimates should have more influence. Respondents reported little opposition to APHIS risk management decisions, and lit tle use of channels such as USDA Extension Service for disseminating r isk messages. Substantial variance across responses is explained mostl y by differences in the roles of the 11 work units (now 10) within the agency. Location also contributes to the variance. Demographic variab les seem less important.