The society aspects of risk governance are increasingly becoming a part of public decision-making processes. This tendency is particularly evident in matters dealing with the protection of human health and the environment. The NEA Committee on Radiation Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) organised a workshop to probe stakeholder involvement processes and their limitations in the field of radiation protection. An example of an area in which stakeholder involvement is particularly important is the clean-up of sites contaminated by accidents or by past industrial or research activities.
Based on discussions during the workshop and previous CRPPH work in this area, this summary addresses the policy development and implementation issues that are key to identifying broadly accepted solutions for radiological protection situations in which stakeholders are an important part of the decision-making process. Applicable in a wide variety of national contexts, enhanced understanding of these policy issues will assist governments and regulatory authorities in better integrating stakeholder concerns in decision making.