Nuclear safety

Abstract

The safe operation of nuclear reactors places a premium on reducing the risk of radiation exposure to workers and members of the public with the potential for adverse health effects and loss of life. To ensure safety, large financial investments are generally incurred at the design stage of the power plants. By the life quality method, the efficacy of the expenditures can be judged against the safety benefit to be gained. The approach provides a defendable basis for making such judgment through its link to the societal capacity to commit resources. Here we illustrate how to quantify the justifiable expenditures for safety measures enacted to reduce the risk of exposures to radiation through engineering safety programs and safety regulations.