Handbook of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety in Engineering Design - Part 56 studies the combination of various methods of designing for reliability, availability, maintainability and safety, as well as the latest techniques in probability and possibility modelling, mathematical algorithmic modelling, evolutionary algorithmic modelling, symbolic logic modelling, artificial intelligence modelling, and object-oriented computer modelling, in a logically structured approach to determining the integrity of engineering design. . | 534 5 Safety and Risk in Engineering Design whom died within weeks from radiation exposure. It also caused radiation sickness in a further 200-300 staff and fire fighters and contaminated large areas of Belarus Ukraine Russia and beyond. It is estimated that at least 5 of the total radioactive material in the Chernobyl-4 reactor core was released from the plant due to the lack of any containment structure. Most of this was deposited as dust close by. Some was carried by wind over a wide area. About 130 000 people received significant radiation doses . above internationally accepted ICRP limits and have been closely monitored. About 800 cases of thyroid cancer in children have been linked to the accident. Most of these were curable though about ten have been fatal. No increase in leukaemia or other cancers has been observed but some ongoing occurrences are expected. The World Health Organisation is closely monitoring most of those affected. An OECD expert report concluded that the Chernobyl accident has not brought to light any new previously unknown phenomena or safety issues that are not resolved or otherwise covered by current reactor safety programs for commercial power reactors in OECD member countries OECD NEA 1995 . The IAEA has given a high priority to addressing the safety of nuclear power plants in Eastern Europe where deficiencies remain. However energy demand in these countries is such that there is little flexibility for closing even those plants that are of most concern though the European Union is bringing pressure to bear particularly in countries that aspire to EU membership. A major international program of assistance has been carried out by the OECD IAEA and Commission of the European Communities to bring early Soviet-designed reactors up to near-Western safety standards or at least to effect significant improvements to the plants and their operation. Modifications have been made to overcome deficiencies in the 13 reactors still operating in .
