Optimal Safety and Health Management of Construction Activities: Evidence from the US Nuclear Power Industry

Introduction
The U.S. nuclear power industry has an exceptionally good occupational safety and health record, including during construction and maintenance work. Many factors explain this record: first, a public demand for extraordinary safety since Three Mile Island has led the industry to institute highly developed safety and health procedures, and second, these procedures are monitored by an extensive regulatory and self-regulatory system.

Methods
This paper is based on a report, From Three Mile Island to the Future: Improving Worker Safety and Health In the U.S. Nuclear Power Industry, that the author prepared for the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future. It is available at http://www.brc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/stoneturn_brc_osh_report_revision_1.pdf
It reviews the avialbvle safety and health data and practices since 1975, including radiation monitoring and reported occupational injuroes and illnesses, and takes into account likely underreporting.

Results
Safety and healkth is 4-5 times better in the nuclear industry than in comparable industries. This paper describes the safety and health record compare to other industries, the specific procedures that the nuclear industry uses to ensure safety and health and the regulatory systems that are in place to monitor the industry. It then estimates the number of injuries and illnesses that would be saved annually in the U.S. if the construction industry were to adopt the safety and health procedures used in the nuclear industry.

Discussion
There are many lessons learned for construction safety and health, and these are described in terms that form recommendations for the construction industry.