"The achievement of proper operating conditions, prevention of accidents or mitigation of accident consequences, resulting in protection of workers, the public and the environment from undue radiation hazards."
The measures taken to prevent unauthorized access to nuclear materials and facilities.
Nuclear physics: Understanding the fundamental principles of the nucleus and the behavior of atomic particles is critical to nuclear security.
Radiation detection and measurement: Developing skills and knowledge to detect, measure, and assess radiation is key to safeguarding nuclear materials.
Nuclear reactors: Understanding the principles of nuclear reactors helps in designing and operating them safely and securely.
Nuclear fuel cycle: Knowledge of the process of converting raw uranium into enriched uranium fuel and the various waste streams and their management is essential.
Nuclear material accounting and control: Management of nuclear materials to prevent unauthorized movement, theft, diversion, or loss is critical.
Safety and security systems: Developing the technical and regulatory infrastructure for the safety and security of nuclear facilities.
Nonproliferation and arms control: Understanding the legal and political framework surrounding nuclear weapons and preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
Physical security: Developing the physical security means to prevent unauthorized personnel entry to nuclear facilities, and detection of unauthorized activities.
Cybersecurity: Protecting against the vulnerabilities in the computer and electronic systems that control nuclear facilities and systems.
Emergency response: Developing the knowledge and skills to respond to nuclear-related emergencies, including accidents, incidents, and acts of terrorism.
Nuclear Security Management: This involves developing and implementing security policies and procedures to protect nuclear and radiological material and facilities from theft, sabotage, or unauthorized access.
Physical Protection: This involves securing the physical assets of a nuclear facility, including personnel, equipment, and infrastructure, against potential threats.
Safeguards: This involves measures and processes to ensure that nuclear materials are being used only for peaceful purposes and are not being diverted for use in weapons.
Personnel Security: This involves background checks, screening, and training of personnel to ensure that they are trustworthy and have the necessary qualifications to work around nuclear materials.
Cybersecurity: This involves protecting the computer systems and networks that control the operation of nuclear facilities from cyber-attacks.
Emergency Preparedness and Response: This involves developing plans and procedures to respond to emergencies such as natural disasters, accidents, or attacks that could threaten the safety and security of nuclear facilities.
International Cooperation: This involves working with other countries to strengthen nuclear security and prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Radioactive Waste Management: This involves safely managing and storing radioactive waste generated from nuclear facilities to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands or being used for malicious purposes.
"The prevention and detection of and response to, theft, sabotage, unauthorized access, illegal transfer or other malicious acts involving nuclear materials, other radioactive substances or their associated facilities."
"Nuclear power plants and all other nuclear facilities, the transportation of nuclear materials, and the use and storage of nuclear materials for medical, power, industry, and military uses."
"The nuclear power industry has improved the safety and performance of reactors, and has proposed new and safer reactor designs."
"However, a perfect safety cannot be guaranteed."
"Potential sources of problems include human errors and external events that have a greater impact than anticipated."
"The designers of reactors at Fukushima in Japan did not anticipate that a tsunami generated by an earthquake would disable the backup systems which were supposed to stabilize the reactor after the earthquake."
"Catastrophic scenarios involving terrorist attacks, war, insider sabotage, and cyberattacks are also conceivable."
"Nuclear weapon safety, as well as the safety of military research involving nuclear materials, is generally handled by agencies different from those that oversee civilian safety, for various reasons, including secrecy."
"There are ongoing concerns about terrorist groups acquiring nuclear bomb-making material."
"The achievement of proper operating conditions, prevention of accidents or mitigation of accident consequences, resulting in protection of workers, the public and the environment from undue radiation hazards."
"The prevention and detection of and response to, theft, sabotage, unauthorized access, illegal transfer or other malicious acts involving nuclear materials, other radioactive substances or their associated facilities."
"Nuclear power plants and all other nuclear facilities, the transportation of nuclear materials, and the use and storage of nuclear materials for medical, power, industry, and military uses."
"The nuclear power industry has improved the safety and performance of reactors, and has proposed new and safer reactor designs."
"A perfect safety cannot be guaranteed."
"Human errors and external events that have a greater impact than anticipated."
"The designers of reactors at Fukushima in Japan did not anticipate that a tsunami generated by an earthquake would disable the backup systems which were supposed to stabilize the reactor after the earthquake."
"Terrorist attacks, war, insider sabotage, and cyberattacks are also conceivable."
"Nuclear weapon safety, as well as the safety of military research involving nuclear materials, is generally handled by agencies different from those that oversee civilian safety."
"There are ongoing concerns about terrorist groups acquiring nuclear bomb-making material."