Tools for empowerment in local risk management

In local risk management the overall aim is to prevent, reduce and limit injuries and deaths. In Safe Communities (SC) there are many experiences about involvement in local injury prevention but most of the research about SC has appeared to be statistical treatment of injury registration. What is lacking in this research is how to supply street level workers with appropriate tools for participation and influence on decisions. Empowerment strategies can improve health and safety promotion in activities at all levels in communities. This implies capacity building, influence and power to the primary users. Mini risk analysis (MRA) has been developed as part of a proactive SC work. MRA is a simple, practical risk tool to be used in local activities. MRA stimulates collaboration, creativity in local solutions, awareness of risks and ways to handle incidents if they occur. MRA and experience from local SC work can contribute to increase involvement in local risk management through enhancing empowerment. The results show how MRA can be used as a practical empowerment tool.