IAEA Action Plan on nuclear safety

This article summarizes the genesis, content and progress of the International Atomic Energy Agency's IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety, developed in response to the accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The plan has 12 main actions covering additional safety reviews, better communication, improved emergency preparedness, strengthened IAEA Safety Standards, incorporation of the accident's lessons in other IAEA guidance, decontamination in Japan and additional research and development. Actions are to be taken both by the IAEA Secretariat and by countries. Through September 2012 the IAEA, among other things, had convened three large topical international experts' meetings. It had listed schedules and results of its peer reviews on the web. It had upgraded its emergency response plan and begun revising its Safety Standards. The article, however, also notes missed opportunities.

► Nuclear accidents do not respect borders.
► Implementation of IAEA Action Plan strengthens nuclear operating safety globally.
► Implementation requires full cooperation and participation of Member States and other stakeholders.
► Mandatory international reviews of the safety performance of nuclear plants and regulatory bodies.
► Importance of communicating nuclear safety issues to the public.