Explain how a nuclear power plant functions and what safety precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of the power plant, its employees, and the environment.

Nuclear energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms – a process called fission. This generates heat to produce steam, which is used by a turbine generator to generate electricity. Although renewable energy sources, like wind and solar power, are important resources for a country’s energy mix, only nuclear power is capable of producing large amounts of electricity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

For safety precaution which regards to employees, several federal agencies—the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. departments of Energy and Transportation—establish radiation protection regulations for U.S. nuclear plants based on internationally recognized scientific studies.

For the safety precaution of power plants itself, The NRC monitors plant performance according to three strategic areas: reactor safety, radiation safety and security.