Browsing by Author "Crancher, DW"

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    Effects on the surrounding population of postulated major accidents at the AAEC Research Establishment
    (Australian Atomic Energy Commission, 1972-11) Button, JCE; Carruthers, E; Cook, JE; Crancher, DW; Davy, DR
    The consequences of accidents in specific facilities at the Research Establishment are examined in terms of possible exposure of persons living around Lucas Heights to release airborne radioactive and toxic materials. In the case of radioactive materials both individual and population doses are estimated the latter over a range of meteorological conditions. Using currently available data on the risk of development of adverse effects in irradiated populations further estimates are made of the possible number of cases of such effects in the local population.
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    Nuclear power plant safety - the risk of accidents
    (Australian Atomic Energy Commission, 1975-08) Higson, DJ; Crancher, DW
    Although it is physically impossible for any nuclear power plant to explode like an atom bomb, an accidental release of radioactive material into the environment is conceivable. Three factors reduce the probability of such releases, in dangerous quantities, to an extremely low level. Firstly, there are many safety features built into the plant including a leaktight containment building to prevent the escape of such material. Secondly, the quality of engineering and standards used are far more demanding than in conventional power engineering. Thirdly, strict government licensing and regulatory control is enforced at all phases from design through construction to operation. No member of the general public is known to have been injured or died as a result of any accident to a commercial nuclear power plant. Ten workers have died as a result of over-exposure to radiation from experimental reactors and laboratory work connected with the development of nuclear power plant since 1945. Because of this excellent safety record the risk of serious accidents can only be estimated. On the basis of such estimates, the chance of an accident in a nuclear power reactor which could cause a detectable increase in the incidence of radiation-induced illnesses would be less that once chance in a million per year. In a typical highly industrialised society, such as the USA, the estimated risk of an individual being killed by such accidents, from one hundred operating reactors, is no greater than once chance in sixteen million per year. There are undoubtedly risks from nuclear accidents but estimates of these risks show that they are considerably less than from other activities which are accepted by society.
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    Report on overseas visit, June-July 1979
    (Australian Atomic Energy Commission, 1979-11) Crancher, DW
    The major objectives of the visit were as follows: (i) to attend the NEA CSNI and the CSNI Sub-Committee on Licensing and Regulation special meetings to discuss the accident at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Station in the United States; (ii) to visit nuclear energy agencies in France, the United Kingdom, Canada and United States for follow-up discussions on nuclear safety issues.
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    Third party liability for nuclear damage
    (Australian Atomic Energy Commission, 1976-12) Crancher, DW
    Basic principles of nuclear liability legislation are discussed including absolute and limited liability and the role of the Sovereign State in identifying the operator for damage in excess of limited liability. European countries realised the need for unifying the law of nuclear liability and efforts were made accordingly towards producing workable international conventions. The world's first legislation on nuclear liability - the USA Price-Anderson Act - is described in detail and digest of nuclear liability claims experience is given. Observations of the present status of nuclear third party liability are outlined.