Acceptable risks: occupational health in the nuclear industry
This thesis examines the risk of working in the nuclear power industry. It reviews the history of the industry, government regulatory activities, and current scientific evidence of the health effects of radiation exposure. A discussion of current controversies over reduction in exposure limits is presented along with an analysis of the issues and problems associated with determinations of acceptable workplace risks. The thesis analyzes the controversy in terms of the acceptability of risk. The question of acceptability does not lend itself to technical evaluations of risks, costs, and benefits but is a social judgment of the necessity of a particular occupation or industry in society. At issue is the level of profits foregone by reductions in risk. This document concludes that the legitimacy of decisions about acceptable risks rests on the informed participation of all interested parties, including workers, in a process of defining socially necessary production. There must be opportunities to refuse higher risk jobs without losing a livelihood and adequate compensation for workers who accept hazardous jobs for the benefit of society.
- OSTI ID:
- 6498477
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290600 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
530100* -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Social & Economic Studies-- (-1989)
570000 -- Health & Safety
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RISK ASSESSMENT
SOCIAL IMPACT
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS