Education and Training for Radiation Protection in Nuclear Power Plants

Health physicists at commercial nuclear power plants have a special place in the health physics profession. This is true for several reasons. First, these people preside over operations entailing much of the monitored occupational exposure in the U.S. (over 40% since 1980). ¹ Second, reactor health physicists work in facilities which are viewed as having the greatest potential for major accidents with severe off-site radiological consequences. Third, power reactors are the civilian facilities with the greatest potential for contaminating the environment with radioactive material. Fourth, power reactors are facilities of technical sophistication and complexity. Fifth, power reactor operations probably are the most stringently regulated activity in the U.S. Finally, power reactors are the principal target of some of the most effective of the political activist groups in the country. It follows that power reactor health physicists need specialized education and training.