Top-Flight Safety Model for Nuclear Industry

Abstract

In their Policy Forum “Preventing Future Fukushimas” (16 September, p. [1580][1]), M. Bunn and O. Heinonen suggest that the nuclear industry must “rebuild public confidence.” To do so, we should study models of successful accident prevention, including independent and transparent regulation. The aviation industry is one example. In April 2011, a tear appeared in the fuselage skin of Southwest Airlines Flight 812. Unlike the nuclear industry, which ignored growing knowledge about the increased risks of tsunamis and earthquakes for three decades ([ 1 ][2]), the aviation industry's response was immediate: 80 similar Boeing 737-300s were grounded. Within about 100 hours, the Federal Aviation Administration had a detailed Emergency Airworthiness Directive issued covering 737 series 300, 400, and 500 aircraft ([ 2 ][3]). We should determine what lessons from aviation can be applied to the nuclear industry. NASA runs a confidential Aviation Safety Reporting System—should a parallel be set up for those in the nuclear industry? Research that spans technologies and industries could help identify the general principles of effective accident prevention. 1. [↵][4]1. J. Noggerath, 2. R. J. Geller, 3. V. K. Gusiakov , Bull. Atom. Sci. 67, 37 (2011). [OpenUrl][5] 2. [↵][6]Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, Emergency Airworthiness Directive AD 2011-08-51 (5 April 2011). [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1209668 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [5]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBull.%2BAtom.%2BSci.%26rft.volume%253D67%26rft.spage%253D37%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [6]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text