ABSTRACT
Nuclear energy must be used in conformity with basic safety and security standards. In recent years there has been much concern about the safety and security of nuclear installations. Nuclear safety systems and operating techniques may vary with the use of different types of reactor. The global regime of nuclear safety includes the safety of nuclear installations, incorporating safe design, construction, operation and siting of nuclear facilities; radiation safety, the safety of radioactive waste management and safety in the transport of radioactive material. While nuclear safety and nuclear security aim to achieve the same objective – protection of public and environment from radiation – there are some differences between two concepts. According to the IAEA, nuclear safety is ‘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’. 1 On the other hand, nuclear security is defined as ‘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’. 2 Nuclear safety is concerned with measures against radiological risks caused by human error, equipment failures, internal events (fire, pipe break) or external events (earthquakes, flooding or other natural calamities), while nuclear security focuses on measures against intentional acts such as theft or illegal transfer of radioactive material or terrorism. 3 Nuclear security is promoted through measures designed for the physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities. A physical protection system of nuclear material and nuclear facility integrates people, procedures and equipment for the protection of assets or facilities against theft, sabotage and terrorist attacks.
