The differences in perception of radiological risks: lay people versus new and experienced employees in the nuclear sector

This paper studies the differences in perception of radiological risks between four different groups: the general population without(a) and with experience related to radiological risks(b), new employees(c), and professionally exposed people(d). The research goal is to determine whether there is a significant difference in risk perception between these four groups for two radiological risks - an accident at a nuclear installation and medical X-rays - and if this difference can be explained by confidence in authorities, the knowledge level about radiological risks and/or the risk perception of other risks or other variables that are included. Moreover, results show that professionally exposed people and the new employees in the nuclear sector have a significant higher risk perception for medical X-rays compared to the risk for an accident at a nuclear installation. For the general population without experience it was just the opposite. The general population with experience does not have a significant difference in risk perception between the two radiological risks. Confidence in authorities is determined as an important variable. People have a lower perception of radiological risks when they have more trust in the authorities.