Civil protection in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant

Despite the high safety standards for nuclear power plants and the associated requirements, an accident with releases of radioactive substances into the environment can never be ruled out with 100 percent certainty in Germany. This also applies to nuclear facilities in neighbouring European countries. That is why precautions are being taken in all countries to protect the population.

Due to the federal structure of the Federal Republic of Germany, authorities and organizations at various levels cooperate in the event of an emergency in order to ensure the protection of the population in the event of an emergency in Germany together with the operators.

Civil protection measures are short-term emergency measures such as:

• the request to stay in buildings to protect against radioactive radiation,
• the distribution and intake of iodine tablets to reduce the radiation exposure of the thyroid gland,
• warning the population against the consumption of freshly harvested food and fresh milk, and
• evacuation according to prepared plans as a precautionary measure and as a protection of the population if a large amount of radioactive substances has settled at the place of residence.

The basic measures for radiation protection precaution are longer-term measures such as:

• control of trade in food and feed,
• Recommendations concerning individual behaviour (e.B. The request to close windows and doors, to avoid staying outdoors, to cover sandboxes, etc.),
• measures in the field of agriculture (e.B. bringing animals into the barn, early harvesting, washing of fruit and vegetables, etc.),
• Large-scale decontamination measures or
• Regulation of residence and access rights.

The federal states are responsible for civil protection with the corresponding civil protection measures and the federal government is primarily responsible for radiation protection prevention and the associated measures, which are implemented by the environment ministries of the federal states.