The INES Scale is a worldwide tool for communicating to the public in a consistent way the safety significance of nuclear and radiological events. The INES Scale explains the significance of events from a range of activities, including industrial and medical use of radiation sources, operations at nuclear facilities and transport of radioactive material.

The IAEA has coordinated the Scales development in cooperation with the OECD/NEA and with the support of more than 60 Member States through their officially designated INES National Officers.