Reducing risk of radiation accidents

Past experience, mainly from Chernobyl, indicates the multidimensional nature of nuclear emergencies and thus the need for partnership between many agencies to address effectively the consequences of an emergency and retain the trust and confidence of the public. Such partnership must exist at all levels of preparedness and response, from the local level (operators of facilities and local authorities, including police, fire, health and other services), through the national level (where ultimate responsibility for protecting the population lies) to the international level.

Prudent concern for the safety and wellbeing of the population requires competently designed and adequately staffed national and international preparedness and response arrangements in the event of a nuclear emergency. Accidents related to radiation, especially if they involve the uncontrolled release of radioactivity to the environment, form a special category of accident for which the public's trust and confidence in the responsible authorities are of paramount importance. The specific role of WHO within the United Nations family of organizations is to focus on issues relevant to health professionals and health authorities in Member States. In the light of this, WHO has established networks of national radiation safety institutions to generate and circulate the necessary information.