Key stakeholders' perceptions of environmental risks and benefits of chemical manufacturing facilities

This study examines the risks and benefits of chemical manufacturing plants according to three key stakeholder groups (e.g., community residents, industry employees, and government officials responsible for monitoring and evaluation). Perceptions from each stakeholder group were obtained about two chemical manufacturing facilities in South Carolina. One facility is viewed as more controversial than the other. The study includes completed surveys from 21 government officials, 60 employees at the less controversial plant, 204 community residents living near the less controversial plant, 54 employees at the more controversial plant, and 248 community residents living near the more controversial plant.;Several key results are highlighted. All three stakeholder groups (i.e., employees, residents and DHEC officials) perceive the total risks of the plants to be quite similar despite the high level of controversy around the more controversial plant. Residents living near the more controversial plant are significantly more likely to believe that the plant has caused air pollution problems in the community. Residents living near the less controversial plant perceive the most benefits than any other stakeholder group. Significant differences on risks and benefit occur between various levels of industry employees (i.e., management and laborers). In each stakeholder group, a negative correlation exists between the risks of the plants and the benefits to the communities, with the industry and resident groups having significant negative correlations. The best predictors of perceived health risk in the resident group living near the more controversial plant are high scores on risk items. The best predictors of perceived health risk in the resident group living near the less controversial plant are low scores on benefit items. Both resident stakeholder groups perceive community service benefits (e.g., sponsoring activities, volunteers) to be as beneficial to the communities as jobs and taxes. Results about levels of trust between stakeholder groups, especially residents and industry, suggest that trust issues are relevant in how residents perceive risk. Interestingly, the controversy appears to be more related to trust than to perceptions of risk. This study has implications for risk communication strategies and may provide a useful foundation for productive communication among all stakeholder groups.