Nuclear safety and nuclear security synergy

Abstract

Nuclear safety and nuclear security have the same fundamental goal: protection of public and environment from undue radiological hazards. While the accidents like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima raised critical safety concerns, the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and other incidences of terrorism have brought the issue of nuclear power plant security to the fore. There has been considerable progress in developing a working understanding of safety and security issues in an independent manner. However, as there are a range of connections between nuclear safety and security and hence, the synergy between the two needs to be maximized. This study attempts to parse the similarities and differences between nuclear safety and security, and suggests ways and methods to enhance synergy between nuclear safety and security.