Powerplant systems and procedures that ensure the day-to-day health and safety of people in and around the plant is referred to as operational safety. This safety is the result of careful planning, good engineering and design, strict licensing and regulation, and environmental monitoring. Procedures that assure operational safety at nuclear powerplants are as follows: (1) training and updating of reactor operators in procedures of powerplant operation; (2) maintenance of strict security at the powerplant; (3) control of radiation releases; (4) storage of the spent (used) fuel in deep pools of water within the powerplant to allow cooling and handling of the spent fuel by remote control; (5) certification of powerplants by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in design, construction and safe operation; and (6) ongoing inspections and environmental monitoring programs to ensure that nuclear powerplants comply with all requirements for public health, safety, and environmental protection. Topics discussed include operational safety; personnel training programs; categories of reactor operators; security; control of radiation releases; handling spent fuel; role of NRC; and sources of radiation to the United States population. (RT)