Insider Threats and Nuclear Security During a Pandemic

Nuclear security is a challenge in the best of circumstances. Those challenges may increase many times over amid the COVID-19 pandemic because government may not fully grasp the consequences and spillover effects of policies they adopt to deal with the pandemic on seemingly unrelated issues. For example, COVID-19 has undoubtedly resulted in enormous economic and social pressures across many societies and consequently, is likely to lead to greater psychological stresses. There is no doubt this will also directly or indirectly affect personnel in sensitive nuclear facilities, leading to potential insider threats. The Review Conference of the Parties to the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) in Vienna this July is a good opportunity to review the status of Personnel Reliability Programs (PRPs) while locating insider threats as part of broader physical protection measures as well. In September 2020, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held discussions over the impact of the pandemic on nuclear plant operations, safety, and security during operations under COVID-19 circumstances, radiation protection, and emergency preparedness. These discussions occurred in the context of the annual meeting of the International Nuclear Safety Group (INSAG), a group of top experts from around the world who debate and advise on nuclear safety issues. The experts highlighted issues like resilience and information exchange as key during these unprecedented times. The discussions also reiterated the importance of human resources, physical restrictions, and rules about maintaining appropriate distancing and emergency preparedness. The participants apparently also shared best practices for mitigation measures through a number of steps including “quarantine of new workers, temporarily halting construction work at nuclear power plants, [and] operating with reduced workforce.”