Radiation protection

The ASN observed that the active progress being made to improve radiation protection in the nuclear power plants is leading to a constant drop in individual and collective worker dosimetry. The national action plans defined and implemented by EDF to improve radiation protection are consistent with the diagnosis of the situation. The ASN in particular considers that reinforcing skills, working methods and supervision are appropriate actions.

Methodical implementation of these action plans has been initiated on the sites. Their effectiveness is being assessed and any necessary adjustments made. The ASN however observes that there are problems with having all the departments on the site follow the radiation protection approach and notes the lack of improvement in individual attitudes, which have been the cause of incidents.

Consequently, these action plans have not yet fully borne fruit and must be continued and possibly strengthened. For example, the staff "radiation protection culture" must be improved. Finally, progress is still needed in supervising application of radiation protection rules on the worksites.

The environment

The environmental protection regulations applicable to BNIs in general and to nuclear power plants in particular, have been gradually reinforced. In the field of discharges, the ASN has begun a process of systematic revision of the licences issued, for each nuclear power plant. With regard to the prevention of risks and detrimental effects, the order of 31 December 1999 introduces new requirements. The ASN notes with satisfaction that these regulatory changes have led to greater concern for environmental protection matters on the part of the nuclear power plants, be it in terms of facility design or operation.

With regard to installations design, EDF in 2005 continued its efforts to define and implement changes to improve the prevention of risks and detrimental effects. This work is satisfactorily coordinated by EDF head office.

Concerning discharges, the quality of the licence application files has improved, but changes are still needed before the files can be considered acceptable. The ASN notes that in 2005, the requirements of the discharge licence orders were on the whole followed. It should be stressed that given the fact that the new authorised discharge limits are set as close as possible to the actual discharges, in order to urge the licensee to reduce its discharges to a level as low as reasonably achievable, any underestimation in the application dossier of the quantities discharged is likely to lead to non-compliance with the licence.

In the field of waste, and at the request of the ASN, EDF conducted safety analyses of waste management activities. The main conclusion from examination of these documents is the absence of any precise operating reference system. In 2005, the ASN also found that despite increased licensee awareness of the need for improvements to their waste management procedures, a lack of equipment availability led to significant congestion of the waste disposal and packaging buildings on certain sites.

Personnel and organisation

The ASN considers that EDF's organisation is on the whole capable of dealing with safety questions. The fact that safety is the main priority is plainly apparent. The ASN recognises the competence and professionalism of the EDF staff. Managers are increasingly present in the field and the manning levels are generally speaking appropriate, although there are still some inadequacies in the maintenance area, particularly during unit outages and with sometimes problematical maintenance conditions. As a whole, EDF must improve how organisational and human factors aspects are incorporated into field activities, in particular in the maintenance sector.

Action plans have been implemented to improve maintenance and operating stringency, but the ASN considers that further progress is still needed, particularly in terms of internal supervision and thoroughness in application of the reference documents. More generally, individual and collective attitudes must give greater importance to the safety culture.