ASN Report 2015

As concerns the quality of operation with regard to

the environment, the inspections in 2015 confirm

the assessment of the preceding years: although a few

deficiencies were found in the handling of deviations,

the documentation and information displays, the

organisation for preventing pollution and the provisions

for effluent management andmonitoring discharges and

the environment appear satisfactory.

Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux site

ASNconsiders that the performance of the Saint-Laurent-

des-Eaux NPP with respect to environmental protection

stands out positively with respect to its assessment of

EDF as a whole. The safety and radiation protection

performance is in line with the average.

With regard to nuclear safety, the Saint-Laurent-des Eaux

site remains at a satisfactory level. The organisational

changes made in the preparation and organisation of

reactor outages have proved their effectiveness. ASN

notes that the action plans deployed in the areas in

which the Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux NPP has identified

weaknesses are producing results. It nevertheless observes

an increase in events linked to poorly performed periodic

tests. ASN considers that the risk analysis procedure and

the ergonomics of the operating documentation can be

further improved.

In the area of radiation protection, the site’s performance

is in line with the average for the EDF reactors. ASN

nevertheless underlines emerging weak spots such as

control of the “orange zone” process

The organisation defined and implemented by the licensee

in the area of the environment is satisfactory. Putting good

practices in place for certain environmental themes is to be

underlined. The organisation of the engineering specialised

in the area of the NPP’s environment, especially the

functioning of the independent environment organisation,

has been bolstered. However, through the observations

made during inspections, ASNperceives a slackening in

the management of radioactive and conventional waste.

Moreover, a number of deviations in the integration of

regulatory provisions has been observed.

ASN considers that on the whole the level of safety of

the nuclear installations of the former Saint-Laurent-

des-Eaux NPP is satisfactory. Safety management in the

structure responsible for dismantling is of a good standard,

with a proactive continuous improvement approach. The

1. In order to protect the workers against the risks associated

with ionising radiation, regulations provide for nuclear installations

to be divided into different areas classified according to the

conditions of radiological exposure, with specific access rules

imposed for each of these areas. Thus, access to the limited stay

areas (called “orange zones” in French) where the equivalent dose

rate is likely to be between 2 millisieverts per hour (mSv/h) and

100 mSv/h requires the prior agreement of the radiation protection

department and is reserved for personnel employed on Unlimited

Term Contracts (CDI).

licenseemust however be attentive to its management of

deviations from the operations risk analyses.

The licensee has progressed in the advancement of the

installation’s legacy waste and effluents treatment work,

despite the unforeseen events that yet again affected the

worksites. A plan of action has been successfully applied

to improve operating rigour further to several deviations

on one of the worksites in  2014 and  2015. The licensee

must therefore continue its actions in order to be able

to start the decommissioning operations apart from

concrete containment structure A2 under satisfactory

conditions in 2016.

The fire risk is well managed by the licensee. Under the

new regulations, the licensee nevertheless still has to draw

up a list of the equipment important for protectionwhich

must be protected against fire and define the associated

requirements.

Labour inspection in the nuclear power plants

The ASN labour inspectors carried out various inspections

in the areas of health and safety at work during 2015,

particularly during reactor outages. Specific inspections

were carried out on the themes of the explosion risk, lifting,

work in confined spaces and specific types of pollution.

Investigations were also conducted further toworkplace

accidents to determine the exact causes and the corrective

actions implemented by the plants concerned.

Labour inspection remained attentive to employeeworking

times and especially those of managerial staff, an area in

which the NPPs’ management can be further improved.

Nuclear research facilities or facilities undergoing

decommissioning, nuclear plants and units

CEA’s Saclay centre

ASN considers that the BNIs of the CEA Saclay centre

are operated under generally satisfactory conditions

of safety. The CEA must nevertheless be attentive to

compliance with the operating baseline requirements

of the facilities and the regulatory texts. Several deviations

from the baseline requirements have effectively been

detected during inspections or have formed the subject

of significant event notifications by the licensee. The

inspections carried out by ASN in 2015 also revealed

several deviations concerning implementation of the

regulatory procedures for managing BNI modifications.

ASN asked the licensee to review its organisation and

draw up an improvement action plan to prevent these

deviations from recurring.

ASNhas observed progress in the management of waste

storage areas, particularly in BNI 35 with the defining

of operating instructions. Improvement measures are

nevertheless required for theOrphée reactor (BNI 101)with

regard to management of the installation’s waste zoning

ORLÉANS DIVISION

278

CHAPTER 08 :

REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND RADIATION PROTECTION

ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015