Key Issues
Safety Benefits of Risk Assessment at U.S. Nuclear Power Plants
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March 2002
Key Facts
March 2002
Key Facts
- The excellent safety record of U.S. nuclear power plants attests to the high quality of engineering, construction and operation of these plants. No member of the American public has been harmed by nuclear power plant operation.
- There are more than 100 nuclear power reactors in the United States. The typical plant is 20 years old and will continue to contribute to the nation's energy supply for decades to come.
- The nuclear energy industry has compiled an enormous database on plant and worker performance. The database supports a technique known as risk assessment, which has provided important new insights into plant safety.
- Risk assessment techniques are used in other industries, such as commercial air transport and the space program. All nuclear power plants have performed a risk assessment, and the industry is recognized as a leader in this area.
- The Nuclear Regulation Commission (NRC) strongly supports the use of risk assessment, which has been the basis for many improvements in plant design and operation.
- The NRC uses this analytical tool to focus its regulations on those areas of the plant most important to safety. A sharper focus on safety-both by the industry and the NRC-translates into safer plant operation, more efficient regulation and lower electricity rates for consumers.
