Abstract:
Concerns over the safety and security of the research reactors have increased due to the national and international contexts (lack of funding, ageing, terrorism…). It should be understood that the establishment of close links between the two is beneficial to both. In this respect, the following key elements have to be considered:
• General framework:
o Objective: Security and safety cultures are based on the same principles
o Governmental support: The two cultures can only develop if they are promoted at State level
o Regulatory framework: For both, appropriate and coordinated regulatory frameworks are necessary
o International cooperation: They should be active in many areas;
• Methodology: The concept of in depth defense can be applied to the 2 areas;
• Reliability: In security, as in safety, much depends on the individuals, on their reliability;
• Risks notion: That encompasses the notion of “acceptable risk” as well as the notion of “design” (DBA and DBT)).
The enhancement of these commonalities should help avoiding the pitting against each other of safety and security. The two should coexist, interact and complement each other, although they have different attributes and objectives.