Hazard assessments associated with decommissioning

This paper presents an approach to hazard assessments associated with decommissioning. It defines the nature of hazards that may affect decommissioning decisions and considers the application of hazard assessment techniques to these problems. Hazard assessment is addressed both in terms of strategic considerations for developing policy and in terms of the requirements for on-site management of decommissioning. The emphasis of the paper is orientated towards the decommissioning of nuclear facilities (both process buildings and power stations) but a number of principles are identified that apply equally well to the decommissioning of non-nuclear facilities particularly in the petrochemical or off-shore industries. (Author)