PROBLEMS OF RISK COMMUNICATION ON RADIATION SAFETY. ANALYSIS OF MATERIALS ON THE INTERNET AFTER THE 2013 RADIATION ACCIDENT AT THE ELECTROSTAL HEAVY ENGINEERING WORKS

• Main Authors: A. M. Biblin, R. R. Akhmatdinov, K. V. Varfolomeeva, L. V. Repin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Saint-Petersburg Research Institute of Radiation Hygiene after Professor P.V. Ramzaev 2018-04-01
• Series: Radiacionnaâ Gigiena
• Subjects: radiation accident; electrostal; emergency response; risk communication; media; crisis communication
• Online Access: https://www.radhyg.ru/jour/article/view/537

Presumably in the first days of April 2013, the smelting of scrap metal occurred on the territory of the Electrostal Heavy Engineering Works without the use of radiation input control. An unspecified source of ionizing radiation, containing 137Cs in an unknown quantity, was melted. As a result of smelting, contamination of the territory of the plant and the adjacent territory of Elektrostal city occurred. The relevance of the study is due to the high social significance of this accident, which is confirmed by a large number of materials published in both federal and regional mass media. In total, for the period from 12.04.2013 to 12.05.2013, 129 materials were identified. In addition, the total number of video views on this accident on the YOUTUBE website exceeds the population of Electrostal city. The purpose of the study was to analyze the practice of crisis risk communication, used by various officials and specialists in connection with the radiation accident in the territory of the Electrostal Heavy Engineering Works in 2013. The study analyzed publications in the mass media, messages on official websites of departments, organizations and authorities involved in the emergency response, video materials on the YOUTUBE website, messages on Internet forums. In order to record, analyze and store publications, an automated information system for the analysis of publications, developed by specialists of the Rospotrebnadzor Information and Analytical Center for Radiation Safety of the Population was used. The analysis of crisis risk communication with the population conducted by government bodies and representatives of various departments in the liquidation of the consequences of a radiation accident on the territory of the Electrostal Heavy Engineering Works revealed a discrepancy between the real risk communication practices in the case of the radiation accident in Elektrostal with modern scientific recommendations for radiation risk communication. Individual cases of unreliable and mutually exclusive information provided by the authorities to citizens were identified, resulting in a rather negative response on the part of Internet users. As a result of the research, there was revealed a lack of response to information materials distributed on the Internet, devoted to a radiation accident on the part of official authorities. Information from the authorities aimed at appeasing the public, due to the critical perception of the information received from the authorities, was not taken seriously by a significant part of the population. It was shown that in order to reduce the negative consequences of ineffective information work with the public, it is necessary to develop methodological support for crisis risk communication and to introduce it into the everyday practice of Rospotrebnadzor through training and improving the skills of individuals involved in communication with the media, non-governmental organizations and the population.