safety on nuclear

Evidence over six decades shows that nuclear power is a safe means of generating electricity. The risk of accidents in nuclear power plants is low and declining. The consequences of an accident or terrorist attack are minimal compared with other commonly accepted risks.

Safety is taken very seriously by those working in nuclear power plants. The main safety concern is the emission of uncontrolled radiation into the environment which could cause harm to humans both at the reactor site and off-site. People are aware of the potential danger of nuclear in release of radioactive materials from generating electricity with nuclear power. 

With a view to ensuring the protection of people and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safety standards established fundamental safety principles, requirements and measures to control the radiation exposure of people and the release of radioactive material to the environment, to restrict the likelihood of events that might lead to a loss of control over a nuclear reactor core, nuclear chain reaction, radioactive source or any other source of radiation, and to mitigate the consequences of such events if they were to occur. The standards apply to facilities and activities that give rise to radiation risks, including nuclear installations, the use of radiation and radioactive sources, the transport of radioactive material and the management of radioactive waste.

Nuclear safety and security covers the actions taken to prevent nuclear and radiation accidents or to limit their consequences. Nuclear power safety depends on intelligent planning, proper design and back-up systems. As in other industries, the design and operation of nuclear power plants aims to minimize the likelihood of accidents, and avoid major human consequences when they occur. 

There is no need fearing radiation doses as they are controlled by the use of remote handling equipment for many operations in the core of the reactor. Other controls include physical shielding and limiting the time workers spend in areas with significant radiation levels.

Several tests and analysis program shows that less radioactivity escapes from molten fuel than initially assumed, and that most of this radioactive material is not readily mobilized beyond the immediate internal structure. Thus, even if the containment structure that surrounds all modern nuclear plants were ruptured, as it has been with at least one of the Fukushima reactors, it is still very effective in preventing escape of most radio activities.

There have been three major reactor accidents in the history of nuclear power - Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima. These are the only major accidents to have occurred in commercial nuclear power operation in 33 countries. Apart from Chernobyl, no nuclear workers or members of the public have ever died as a result of exposure to radiation due to a commercial nuclear reactor incident. 

In cases of a meltdown accident, there is no-one need to fear of any potential public health tragedy because of a fuel meltdown.  Fukushima made that clear, with a triple meltdown causing no fatalities or serious radiation doses to anyone.

This evidence is a clear indication that nuclear power is a safe means of generating electricity. The risk of accidents in nuclear power plants is low and declining. The consequences of an accident or terrorist attack are minimal compared with other commonly accepted risks. Radiological effects on people of any radioactive releases can be avoided based on assumption by World Nuclear Association.

Some of major safety precautions that the Kenyan government will have to take while setting up a nuclear power plant are: High-quality design and construction, equipment which prevents operational disturbances or human failures and errors developing into problems, comprehensive monitoring and regular testing to detect equipment or operator failures, redundant and diverse systems to control damage to the fuel and prevent significant radioactive releases, provision to confine the effects of severe fuel damage (or any other problem) to the plant itself. These will help in controlling reactivity, cooling the fuel and contain radioactive substances.

An integrated and consistent set of Safety 

Requirements established by IAEA require the protection of people and the environment, both now and in the future. The requirements are governed by the 

objective and principles of the Safety Fundamentals.If the requirements are not met, measures must be taken to reach
or restore the required level of safety and Kenya is no exception.

Michael.