Risk Assessment A tool to compare alternative courses of action for the conservation of iron-gall ink containing objects
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English Slovak |
| ISSN: | ISSN 0034-5806 |
| Online Access: | http://www.viks.sk/chk/res_4_03_205_226.doc |
| Abstract: | CONCLUSIONS. The present example illustrates the application of the risk assessment framework to a simple situation involving only one object; it was carried out easily, thanks to the ready availability of analytical data from simulation studies on the extents of undesired effects for the different courses of action under consideration. Higher degrees of complexity will certainly arise in situations where risk assessment is applied to entire collections of objects with different condition ratings and containing iron-gall inks with varying compositions. Other alternative courses of action for conservation or combinations of different courses of action may be considered, which will add complexity to the risk assessment procedure as well. It is also possible that new undesired effects from the alternative courses of action considered in this example are identified, which will have to be included in future assessments. The partial removal of ink components due to interventive treatments, which will cause an irreversible alteration of its composition, may be considered an undesired effect. This would be of especial relevance to objects of high intrinsic value where the composition of the ink may be used as a source of historical information, e.g. about its provenance. Despite the increased complexity that may arise in different situations, the procedure of risk assessment as presented in this study remains the same. The risk assessment framework presented in this study allows for a quantitative estimation of the risks associated with different possible courses of action for the conservation of iron-gall ink-containing paper objects. Such a tool offers the opportunity of making the comparison between conservation alternatives more objective. Additionally it may be used for communication with collection managers. Since the magnitude of the risks associated with different possible courses of action for conservation closely depends on the particular characteristics of the objects, a thorough description of them is a pre-requisite for a successful risk analysis. It should take into consideration historical and artistic merits as well as technical and scientific aspects. Object characterisation, as well as the application of risk assessment should be carried out by a group of experts. It is expected that the risk assessment framework presented in this study will find a practical application, and will be used in the decision-making process for the conservation of our iron-gall ink-containing paper-based heritage. SUMMARIES. A framework for the quantitative estimation of the risks associated with possible courses of action for the conservation of iron-gall ink-containing paper objects has been developed. It includes the identification of all possible undesired effects resulting from each course of action, followed by the estimation of the probability that a given undesired effect will occur, as well as of the loss of value it would lead to. Four alternative courses of action were considered in this study: 1) no action, 2) preventive conservation, 3) combined calcium phytate/calcium bicarbonate treatment and 4) paper splitting. Because the magnitude of risk closely depends on the condition of a particular object, it is suggested that risk assessment for entire collections should be preceded by dividing the collection into sub-groups of objects having similar condition. By quantifying the risks involved in different possible scenarios, a comparison among conservation alternatives may become more objective, and decision-making is likely to be based on a better informed judgement. |
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| ISSN: | ISSN 0034-5806 |
