Chernobyl Explosion 1986
On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant that was in Ukraine, which at that time was a part of the former Soviet Union, exploded causing fires and it released 5% of the radioactive reactor core into the atmosphere (Institute, 2015). This accident caused the largest uncontrolled radioactive release into the environment that was ever recorded and large amounts of radioactive materials were released into the atmosphere for about ten days (Association, 2016). The Soviet authorities began evacuating people from the area within 36 hours after the accident. In the year 1986, 115,000 people were evacuated, later the government further moved another 220,000 people (Institute, 2015). Two plant workers died from injuries …show more content…
These actions were in violation of the plant’s technical specifications (Institute, 2015). This plant did not have a containment structure that is common to most nuclear power plants throughout the world. Without the structure for containment, the radioactive material spread into the environment. After the accident, a large concrete shelter was constructed by October of 1986 to enclose the Chernobyl unit 4 reactor. This structure, though, is not strong or durable. There is about 200 tonnes which is 2,205 lbs. of highly radioactive material that remains within it and this poses an environmental hazard until it is contained (Association, 2016). A new safe confinement structure is due to be completed in 2017. It is in an arch form that is 110 meters high and 165 meters long. It will cover both the unit 4 reactor and the confinement structure that was built in 1986 (Association, 2016). This new sealed building will allow engineers to dismantle the 1986 structure and enable the removal of the materials in the bottom of the reactor …show more content…
Risk assessment approaches being the quantitative measurement of the risks and the comparison of them that are involved in these activities and with their involved substances, and risk management approaches being that of the decisions and strategies that are put into place in order to minimize those risks. Risk management in the U.S. is handled by the EPA, CDC, and FDA. When comparing the U.S. nuclear power reactors to Chernobyl, there is a key difference in how they are designed and built. The U.S. has extensive safety features set in place to prevent large-scale accidents and releases of the radioactive materials. The Chernobyl reactor didn’t have these features and was unstable when operating at low power levels. Also, the U.S. has federal regulations in place that require extensive emergency preparedness planning for all its nuclear energy facilities. In the U.S, there are stringent emergency preparedness plans, required alerts and notification of authorities within 15 minutes of an identifying conditions, and the protection of our food chain through the monitoring and testing of food and water supplies, and then, the quarantining and removing from public consumption any unsafe water or food (Institute, 2015).
On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant that was in Ukraine, which at that time was a part of the former Soviet Union, exploded causing fires and it released 5% of the radioactive reactor core into the atmosphere (Institute, 2015). This accident caused the largest uncontrolled radioactive release into the environment that was ever recorded and large amounts of radioactive materials were released into the atmosphere for about ten days (Association, 2016). The Soviet authorities began evacuating people from the area within 36 hours after the accident. In the year 1986, 115,000 people were evacuated, later the government further moved another 220,000 people (Institute, 2015). Two plant workers died from injuries …show more content…
These actions were in violation of the plant’s technical specifications (Institute, 2015). This plant did not have a containment structure that is common to most nuclear power plants throughout the world. Without the structure for containment, the radioactive material spread into the environment. After the accident, a large concrete shelter was constructed by October of 1986 to enclose the Chernobyl unit 4 reactor. This structure, though, is not strong or durable. There is about 200 tonnes which is 2,205 lbs. of highly radioactive material that remains within it and this poses an environmental hazard until it is contained (Association, 2016). A new safe confinement structure is due to be completed in 2017. It is in an arch form that is 110 meters high and 165 meters long. It will cover both the unit 4 reactor and the confinement structure that was built in 1986 (Association, 2016). This new sealed building will allow engineers to dismantle the 1986 structure and enable the removal of the materials in the bottom of the reactor …show more content…
Risk assessment approaches being the quantitative measurement of the risks and the comparison of them that are involved in these activities and with their involved substances, and risk management approaches being that of the decisions and strategies that are put into place in order to minimize those risks. Risk management in the U.S. is handled by the EPA, CDC, and FDA. When comparing the U.S. nuclear power reactors to Chernobyl, there is a key difference in how they are designed and built. The U.S. has extensive safety features set in place to prevent large-scale accidents and releases of the radioactive materials. The Chernobyl reactor didn’t have these features and was unstable when operating at low power levels. Also, the U.S. has federal regulations in place that require extensive emergency preparedness planning for all its nuclear energy facilities. In the U.S, there are stringent emergency preparedness plans, required alerts and notification of authorities within 15 minutes of an identifying conditions, and the protection of our food chain through the monitoring and testing of food and water supplies, and then, the quarantining and removing from public consumption any unsafe water or food (Institute, 2015).