Nuclear safety in the unexpected second nuclear era.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear energy development
• Sociotechnical systems
• Risk assessment

Background:

• The first nuclear era faced challenges with nuclear safety despite efforts.
• Severe accidents highlighted an inadequate understanding of nuclear safety.
• Developing nations are driving a new, unexpected second nuclear era.

Purpose of the Study:

• Reexamine the nature of nuclear safety considering risk and sociotechnical factors.
• Identify new challenges in the second nuclear era.
• Refine the concept of nuclear safety from a sociotechnical perspective.

Main Methods:

• Review of expert understanding of nuclear safety.
• Analysis of sociotechnical factors influencing nuclear safety.
• Integration of social and technical elements in risk decisions.

Main Results:

• Nuclear safety requires integrating social and technical elements ('social rationality').
• Risk control should utilize the 'Wuli-Shili-Renli' framework.
• Systems thinking and social mechanisms are crucial for addressing uncertainties in risk assessment.
• Public-centered risk communication is essential.

Conclusions:

• A refined, sociotechnical understanding of nuclear safety is needed for the second nuclear era.
• Integrating social rationality, specific frameworks, systems thinking, and public communication enhances nuclear safety.
• This work provides a theoretical foundation for transforming nuclear safety concepts.