Societal impact of behavioral risk to environmental hazards in HEI

Abstract This study investigates the social and environmental consequences of student behaviors that predispose them to environmental health risks in Ghanaian higher educational institutions (HEIs). Using a risk assessment model and hierarchization matrix analysis, the project identified students as the most sensitive human element in the academic environmental management system (AEMS), while university administrators emerged as the most affecting. Risk scenarios were modeled to assess the likelihood and severity of harm. Results revealed students (68%) consistently engage in behaviors that heighten exposure to environmental hazards. The findings highlight the urgent need for safety culture reforms in universities and suggest the adoption of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) to institutionalize hazard mitigation. This paper presents the study’s social impact, methodology, and broader implications for environmental and public health management in HEIs.