How much radiation does a nuclear power plant worker get

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

The NRC regulates and oversees the civilian uses of nuclear materials in the United States by licensing facilities that possess, use, or dispose of nuclear materials; establishing standards; and inspecting licensed facilities. This includes nuclear power plants. The NRC is responsible for implementing the EPA established standards at the facilities they oversee.

Most states have signed formal agreements with the NRC, providing the states regulatory responsibility over small quantities of special nuclear material. These states are known as Agreement States. The radioactive materials license can be issued either by the NRC or an Agreement State.

The NRC Agreement State Program
This webpage provides information about the NRC Agreement State program and lists links to additional information.

How the NRC Protects You
This webpage provides information about how the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulates and inspects sites where radioactive materials are used.

Nuclear Reactors
This webpage contains links to information about the NRC’s role in the nuclear power industry.

Student’s Corner: Nuclear Energy
This webpage provides information for students about nuclear energy, radiation emergencies, radioactive waste and more.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA uses its authority from the Clean Air Act to set limits on the amount of radioactive material released into the air from nuclear power plants. The EPA sets environmental standards for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel, high-level wastes.

Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for Nuclear Power Operations (40 CFR Part 190)
This webpage provides information on the EPA’s environmental radiation protection standards for nuclear power operations, including a summary of the rule, rule history, and a link to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) for this rule.

Radiation: Facts, Risks and Realities
In this booklet, you can read about radiation and its health risks. You can learn about natural radiation and radioactive material used in medicine and nuclear power.

Overview of the Clean Air Act and Air Pollution
This webpage provides information about the Clean Air Act and how air is monitored to help protect the public.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

FEMA evaluates state and local emergency response plans for areas around nuclear power plants.

Nuclear Power Plant Emergencies
This webpage provides information on nuclear power plants and potential nuclear emergencies.

Nuclear Power Plant Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 106 K, About PDF)
This fact sheet provides information for people who live near a nuclear power plant, including how to respond during an emergency situation.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

The DOE has oversight responsibilities related to radioactive waste disposal and domestic energy production. The EIA, a branch of the DOE, collects, analyzes, and releases information about different energy sources. They have a role in educating the public about energy.

Nuclear Energy Sources
This webpage provides a background information about nuclear power as an energy source used in the United States. Links are provided to learn more about reactor technologies and nuclear facilities.

Nuclear & Uranium
This webpage provides links to information and data about how much electricity nuclear power plants in the United States generate.

Energy Kids
This webpage provides information on how uranium is used to produce electricity in nuclear power plants.

Nuclear Explained
This webpage provides information about nuclear power in the United States including where it comes from and how much energy is generated.

The States

Each nuclear power plant must have an emergency response plan for incidents that occur on-site. State and local authorities have emergency response plans for incidents that could release radiological material outside the plant property. These emergency response plans are designed to work together. State and local authorities practice their emergency plans every two years at every commercial nuclear power plant.

State Radiation Protection Programs
This webpage provides links and contact information for each state's Radiation Control Program office.

Radiation is energy that travels in invisible waves or rays. Exposure to radiation is an everyday occurrence – in fact, it has always been a part of life on Earth.

Radiation can be natural or man-made.

Natural:

• The sun emits ultraviolet rays that can cause sunburn.
• Granite, a common rock used in kitchen counters, is a natural source of radiation.

Man-made:

• Doctors use X-rays and MRIs to see inside patients with broken bones and other problems.
• A microwave uses a form of radiation to cook food.

Understanding Types of Radiation

There are two types of radiation: non-ionizing (low frequency) and ionizing (high frequency). Both types can be harmful in excessive amounts. Fortunately, scientists, nuclear engineers and doctors understand radiation and know how to harness its benefits and protect us from its dangers.

Non-ionizing radiation emits enough energy to move or “excite” atoms. For example, microwave ovens use non-ionizing radiation to cook food. The radiation vibrates water contained in food, which creates heat. That heat cooks the food.

Ionizing radiation emits enough energy to change the structure of an atom, which can damage biological cells. For instance, a sunburn is a type of radiation damage.

In nuclear facilities, technicians focus on four types of ionizing radiation: alpha, beta, gamma and neutrons. Alpha radiation is too weak to penetrate most objects. Beta radiation is stronger, while gamma radiation is the strongest. Neutrons can penetrate many objects, but are slowed by water.

Measuring Radiation

Radiation doses are measured in an international unit called a Sievert (Sv). Typically, radiation doses are so low that they are measured in milliSieverts (mSv) or one-thousandth of a Sievert.

Because exposure to radiation happens every day, it is helpful to understand the average amount of radiation that people receive from natural and man-made sources.

For instance, the average annual radiation dose that a person receives from food and water is nearly 0.3 mSv. At the same time, the average annual radiation dose that the public receives from nuclear power is 0.0002 mSv.

Managing Radiation in Nuclear Energy Plants

The nuclear energy industry follows international best practices and standards to protect the public, workers and the environment. Modern nuclear energy plants use many barriers to protect people from radiation.

Every barrier provides another layer of protection. In addition, the intensity of radiation decreases with distance from the source. Nuclear energy plants add distance from radioactive sources by incorporating large open spaces around the facility that the public cannot enter.

Radiation Protection

All restricted areas of the plant are clearly marked.

In addition, there are three simple ways to limit exposure to radiation.

• Create a barrier: Barriers made of steel, concrete or water provide protection from radiation. This is why the reactor is inside several layers of thick walls made of steel and concrete. It is also why used fuel is stored in concrete and steel-lined pools of water. 
• Minimize time: The less time a person spends near a source of radiation, the less radiation they receive.
• Increase distance: The farther away a person is from a source of radiation, the less radiation they receive. This is one of the reasons why there are restricted areas of the plant.

How much radiation do you get from living near a nuclear power plant?

Do nuclear power plant workers get exposed to radiation?

How safe is it to work in a nuclear power plant?

How high is the exposure rate of someone working in a nuclear power plant?