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Best Practices and Lessons Learned in Effective and Transparent Public Communication During Nuclear Emergencies

Best Practices and Lessons Learned in Effective and Transparent Public Communication During Nuclear Emergencies

Mr. Gordon WhiteChief Communications Officer &Vice-President,Regulatory Affairs Branch, CNSCCo-Chair for the IEM on Enhanced Transparency and Communications Effectiveness

IAEA International Experts Meeting June 19, 2012

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission 2012-06-19 2

Overview CNSC – Quasi-judicial tribunal Canada’s experience - Response to

Fukushima Lessons learned on public and crisis

communications Strategic challenges


Canadian Nuclear Safety CommissionRegulates the use of nuclear energy and

materials to protect the health, safety and security of

Canadians and the environment to implement Canada’s international

commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy

Canada’s nuclear watchdog


Independent Commission Tribunal

Quasi-judicial administrative tribunal Commission members are

independent Commission hearings are public and

Webcast

Public, transparent, science-based decision making

Decisions can only be reviewed by Federal Court

Oversight of full nuclear cycle, imports and exports


The CNSC’s Response to Fukushima Daiichi

March 11, 2012 – EOC activated within hours

Tokyo

1:46 a.m. (EDT)Mag. 9 earthquake

Strikes Japan10:30 a.m. (EDT)First message sent

to CNSC staff

5 p.m. (EDT)Staff mobilized forEOC staffing 24/7

10:00 a.m. (EDT)Decision to activate

Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)

3:00 p.m. (EDT)First public

statement issued


CNSC Key Priority –Get The Messages OutExternal communication to the public began March

11, 2011 Information updates issued daily as event developed from March 12

through April 1, then weekly or as significant developments occurred

Daily coordination with other government departments

Immediate creation of Fukushima Web page

Response to media requests for information

Internal communication with staff Daily messages to staff from March 11 to 28

Articles in bi-weekly newsletter

Three weekly wrap-up emails from PresidentRegular communications are critical


Multiple Information Sources / Multiple Communicators

Clarity in messaging? It gets complicated…

Japanese Agencies

Tokyo Electric Power Company

Japan Atomic and Industrial Forum

Nuclear and IndustrialSafety Agency

Government of Canada

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Other government agencies(Public Safety Canada, Health Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Privy Council Office, Prime Minister’s Office)

International Agencies

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Other regulators – e.g., US, France, UK

Sources of valid, credible

information are key!


The CNSC – Canada’s Sole Nuclear Regulator & Reliable Source of Information Adapted quickly to provide resources to respond to

the situation• Staff dedicated to respond

• Expedited approval processes

Constantly monitored evolution of crisis • Respond quickly with “real-time” information

• Plain language

Provided timely and clear information to bolster public confidence• Significant effort to counter perception that information is

being concealed

Public was looking for a single, reliable source


Fukushima Daiichi – CNSC’s Thorough Review Beginning March 17, 2011 - The CNSC issued order to all

nuclear facilities April 2011 – The CNSC established operational Task Force to

evaluate operational, technical, and regulatory implications (stress test of safety)

August 2012 – Appointment of External Advisory Committee – non-nuclear experts to conduct an independent review of CNSC process

August to March 2012 – Multiple rounds of consultation/hearings on Task Force Report

December 2011 – IRRS follow-up mission completed April 2012 – External Advisory Committee findings report May 2012 – Public hearing to consider CNSC Staff Action Plan

and the report of External Advisory CommitteePrompt action by Canada’s nuclear regulator


External Advisory Committee Was CNSC’s Stress Test on Regulator’s Process: Concluded that the CNSC acted appropriately in its

response CNSC - too much emphasis on “Web-based” only

communications Requires a more comprehensive “public

communication/education strategy” that takes advantage of:

• social media

• expanded partnerships with science media organizations

Always room for improvement


Communication Challenge – Clear Consistent Messaging on What the Public Wants to Know

Be prepared – 24/7 Aggressive Media

Will my child have birth defects? Should I wear a dosimeter?

What are the health effects?

What quantity is safe?

When will I get sick?

Can children play outside?Can I breast feed my baby?

How can I protect myself from radiation exposure?

Should I take potassium iodine pills?

Should I evacuate?

Whose adviceshould I follow?


Communication Challenge: Confusing Scientific Information Radiological quantities and units are confusing!

Bq, Bq/m3, Bq/l, Gy, cpm, Ci, Sv, mSv, µSv etc.

People are not comfortable with pico, micro, milli, mega prefixes

What does all this data have to with whether I can eat the fish, spinach or berries?

Use public friendly language, consistent terminology – expert info for non-experts


Communication Challenge: Conflicting Advice From Authorities Breeds Mistrust Conflicting information on evacuation Conflicting information on INES levels Information kept changing Setting dose levels – What are the health

impact limits for cesium, iodine, etc. in food, water, air?

Collaboration – one message(share information promptly)


Communication Challenge: Accurate Information Lacking in Public DomainMedia headlines following TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi

event: Japan's nuke crisis spills into Europe (REUTERS March 14, 2011)

Canadians swamp health hotline over fallout fears (Toronto Star March 19, 2011)

Nuke workers expecting to die (AFP April 1, 2011)

A 35% Spike in Infant Mortality in Northwest Cities Since Meltdown (COUNTERPUNCH June 10, 2011)

14,000 U.S. Deaths Linked to Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown: Infants Hardest Hit (THE PROVINCE January 9, 2012)

Nuclear Expert: Fukushima 10 times worse than Chernobyl (ENE News March 12, 2012)

Need to challenge & correct misinformation ANDestablish relationships with science media bureaus


Transparency - CNSC Looking Ahead The CNSC is: Enhancing readiness

• crisis site, prepackaged information, building capacity, training spokespersons, etc.)

• set record straight on common misconceptions– mythbusting! Revisiting Web content

• plain language, key messages, and full coverage of key topics

• dedicated “crisis” website Improving communication with stakeholders Revisiting relationships with media science organizations Integrating social media (multi-platforms)

• Facebook page, YouTube channel, Twitter account

Right Message, Right People, Right Time


The Strategic ChallengeRemember - nuclear incidents have no borders

Communication and transparency have never been more important

Reporting on nuclear safety needs to be more transparent CNSC has asked the IAEA Secretariat to enhance their annual

reporting on nuclear safety to the Board of Governors – increased transparency• more detailed reporting in IAEA’s annual safety report • major safety lapses/non-compliance with the implementation

of IAEA safety standards need to be raised by Director General IRRS missions – improve public reporting (mandatory) World Association of Nuclear Operators – disclose

non-compliant/non-responding operatorsMaintaining public trust in nuclear safety - our

priority


3rd International Conference on Effective Nuclear Regulatory Systems Canada is pleased to host the upcoming IAEA

3rd International Conference on Effective Nuclear Regulatory Systems organized by the IAEA• Ottawa, Canada, April 8-12, 2013

Senior nuclear regulators to review issues important to the global nuclear regulatory community • Will assess improvements to the effectiveness of

regulatory systems based on lessons learned from Fukushima Daiichi


We Will Never Compromise Safety

nuclearsafety.gc.ca

Thank You