Balancing technical and socio-political issues in managing risks: the radiation perspective

Although radioactive discharges from nuclear installations have been reduced to extremely low levels, pressures exist to drive down these levels even further. Because radiation exposure is such an emotive subject, it is particularly important that the decision-making process goes beyond science and economics. The key issue therefore is how the concerns and perceptions of various stakeholders who are less concerned with quantified levels of risk can be factored into the decision-making process in a way which means that if the course of action indicated by technical/economic analysis is not to be followed, then this is done clearly and transparently with an understanding about the implications for priorities in the use of resources to reduce risk. This paper looks at the scientific nature of the risks and how these might be better presented. It also shows the stark choices which exist for the best allocation of resources to reduce risk; and finally, it tries to address the difficult and complex issue of how less-quantifiable socio-political issues might fairly and transparently be included in the total decision-making process.