Facilitated workshops on nuclear accidents
While considerable attention is rightfully focussed on developing and implementing measures to avoid nuclear accidents, accident response plans must also be rigorously assessed. Funding from the EURATOM Programme was allocated to address this issue through a research project coordinated by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) in Finland. The project, entitled EVATECH, sought to provide the tools necessary for evaluating the suitability of different countermeasures in the case of an accident. It was imperative that the full range of stakeholders, including industry, government, as well as the local communities, were involved in the decision-making process. Further to a review of relevant research on this subject, it was decided to proceed with facilitated workshops. The concept of this particular type of workshop, also known as decision conferencing, is based on decision theory and the psychology of groups. The goal is to integrate the various points of view and eventually achieve a common level of understanding between all participants. Treating all concerns as equal also helps encourage a shared commitment to action. During the course of the three-year year project, facilitated workshops were organised in each of the seven EU Member States from which the EVATECH partners hailed. These workshops provided the context for extensive discussion and analysis of possible countermeasures prior to the formal decision-making process.
