Input from a wide variety of sources was sought during the RMSEF development process, which had contractor support. A public meeting was held on November 4-5, 1999 at the Transportation Research Board, Bethesda, MD. A panel of experts was convened on June 1, 2000 at the Nassif Building, Washington, D.C. to critique and improve the product.

Use of RMSEF is voluntary. RMSEF is not a regulatory requirement, a standard, or a "best practice." RMSEF is best considered as guidance and assistance. It is flexible and can be tailored to individual circumstances.

You can compare what you do with the RMSEF structure. OHMS plans to use it in its regulatory functions in order to make better risk-informed decisions. You may participate in an industry program with similar objectives. Again, a comparison may be useful. Through this comparison, ideas for improvement may emerge. A few questions to ask are: Which elements of the framework are applicable to your organization? Would adoption of the framework, or portions thereof, help you establish priorities for risk reduction? Are resources available to do more in any of these areas?

Central to the assessment is identification of control points where interventions that affect risk are possible. For instance, establishment of specific operating procedures and check lists are ways to minimize human error.

At times these risk control points may be such that limits can be established, measurements can be made, and corrective actions taken if the limits are exceeded. The temperature of a cryogenic liquid during transportation is one example where this may be possible. The level of training of employees may be another situation where certain baselines can be established. People applying these techniques should be alert to such opportunities.