nuclear-news

Nuclear safety staffing in the United States: a crisis with no easy fix

Bulletin, By David Gillum, Itty Abraham, Kathleen M. Vogel | July 14, 2023

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog, nearly 13 million people are exposed to ionizing radiation in occupational settings every year worldwide. There are horror stories within the nuclear safety community of what can happen with lax institutional oversight of nuclear and radiological materials—from stockpiles of improperly managed radiological waste to missing or inaccurate inventories to lost or destroyed records.

Remedies for such infractions can cost millions of dollars and damage the reputation of institutions. That is why it is essential to have qualified, trustworthy staff and an engaged leadership team overseeing radiation safety within the many academic, governmental, and corporate entities that handle radiological materials.

In the United States, however, three challenges stand in the way of maintaining adequate levels of nuclear safety staffing: an insufficient supply of qualified experts, the loss of established experts, and the loss of tacit knowledge held by experts who retire. No single solution can fix all three challenges. But the loss of experienced personnel and the knowledge they possess should be of highest concern in the medium term.

What a radiation safety officer does. One of the most important responsibilities of a radiation safety officer is to ensure that worker and community radiation doses are kept “as low as reasonably achievable.”

………………………………………………………………….No matter what the future growth of nuclear power is, radiation safety officers will be needed to handle the radioactive waste generated by current and retired reactors. Yet, the pool of radiation protection personnel is already insufficient, increasing competition between private industry and public sectors seeking these highly skilled professionals. ……………………………………………………….  https://thebulletin.org/2023/07/nuclear-safety-staffing-in-the-united-states-a-crisis-with-no-easy-fix/—

July 16, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | employment, USA