Knowra Nuclear safety Nuclear safety Nuclear safety is the prevention and mitigation of accidents and radiation harm in nuclear activities. It relies on engineered barriers, operating practices, regulation, and emergency planning.
Defense in depth : A safety strategy that uses multiple independent layers to prevent accidents and limit their consequences. Nuclear facilities combine successive barriers and controls so one failure does not cause catastrophe.
Three Mile Island accident : A 1979 partial reactor core meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. The accident exposed how confusing indications and operator actions can compound equipment failures.
Nuclear fission : The splitting of a heavy atomic nucleus into lighter nuclei, often releasing neutrons and energy. Fission supplies reactor heat and creates the possibility of an uncontrolled chain reaction.
International Atomic Energy Agency : A United Nations organization that promotes peaceful nuclear uses and develops international nuclear safety standards. Its standards and peer reviews help countries assess and strengthen nuclear safety arrangements.
Nuclear security : Measures to prevent, detect, and respond to theft, sabotage, or unauthorized access involving nuclear or radioactive material. Security addresses deliberate harmful acts, whereas safety principally addresses accidental harm.
Nuclear reactor safety systems : Engineered systems that shut down reactors, remove heat, and contain radioactive material during abnormal conditions. These systems interrupt accident sequences when normal operation cannot be maintained.
Chernobyl disaster : A 1986 reactor explosion and fire at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Soviet Ukraine. The disaster showed the consequences of unsafe reactor design, flawed testing, and weak safety culture.
Nuclear chain reaction : A sequence in which neutrons from nuclear reactions induce further reactions. Controlling the chain reaction is central to keeping a reactor within safe operating conditions.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission : The United States federal agency that regulates civilian nuclear reactors and other nuclear materials and activities. The NRC illustrates how independent licensing, inspection, and enforcement operate nationally.
Radiation protection : The principles and practices used to protect people from harmful exposure to ionizing radiation. Radiation protection limits exposure in routine work as well as during accidents.
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