Key Issues
Safety Is the Nuclear Energy Industry’s Highest Priority
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January 2009
Key Facts
January 2009
Key Facts
- Safety performance at the 104 commercial nuclear reactors around the country has been sustained at record levels.
- Statistics show that it is safer to work at a nuclear power plant than in the manufacturing sector.
- Reactor operators must obtain a license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and train continually to rigorous standards.
- The industry’s “defense-in-depth” safety approach uses multiple barriers that protect against accidental radiation release.
- The nuclear energy industry is one of the most heavily regulated commercial enterprises.
- The industry’s safety culture, practiced by every individual, permeates all aspects of plant operation.
