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STRASBOURG DIVISION
1. ASSESSMENT BY DOMAIN
1.1 The nuclear installations
Fessenheim nuclear power plant
ASN considers that the nuclear safety performance and
environmental protection performance of the Fessenheim
site stand out positively with respect to ASN’s general
assessment of EDF, and that its radiation protection
performance is in line with ASN’s general assessment
of EDF.
Daily operation of the reactors is satisfactory on the whole.
The workers’ practices comply with requirements and on
several occasions the site’s personnel has demonstrated
a questioning attitude leading to relevant situational
analyses. However, several deviations from safety
baseline requirements were noted. Furthermore, one
noteworthy event in 2015 was a water leakage in the
turbine hall. Although it had no real consequences on
safety, and operational control of the reactor was well
managed, insufficient analysis of the causes of the crack
in the pipe led to another rupture of the pipe during
its return to service.
The maintenance operations carried out in 2015 were
well planned and well managed. The licensee must
continue to pay particular attention to equipment
that is not considered to be important for safety but
whose failure can have consequences on the safety of
the installations.
The site’s organisation for protection of the environment
is satisfactory, the effluent sampling facilities are well
equipped and well monitored. The site demonstrates
greater rigour in the management of waste compared
with preceding years.
Occupational radiation protection is well integrated
in the performance of the activities and the site has
appropriate measurement and protection means. A
lack of worker vigilance was however noted on several
occasions, leading to practices which do not comply
with requirements in this area.
Cattenom nuclear power plant
ASNconsiders that the nuclear safety and environmental
protection performance of the Cattenom NPP is on the
whole in line with ASN’s general assessment of EDF but
that the site’s radiation protection performance remains
below average.
With regard tooperationof the reactors, ASNconsiders that
the site’s performance is on thewhole satisfactory, even if the
number of significant events detected by the licensee has
increased comparedwith the previous year. In particular,
ASN noted deviations in application of the operational
control rules and in the performance of equipment tests.
This being said, appropriate measures are implemented
promptly as soon as the deviations are detected. Beyond
the technical aspects, the organisational and human
factors are correctly taken into account.
Reactor maintenance work, which was of a moderate
scale in 2015, was well planned and managed. The site
mobilises itself to efficiently manage the unpredicted
events occurring on the facilities. Nevertheless, several
events still indicate a lack of rigour in formalising,
analysing and handling deviations.
ASN considers that the Cattenom site is making progress
in environmental protection. The necessary means have
been put in place to correct the deviations detected in
the preceding years, particularly in the management of
radioactive waste and the control of copper discharges.
With regard to occupational radiation protection, ASN
notes the licensee’s mobilisation and progress is observed.
However, improvements are required in the behaviour
of the personnel on the ground, and this necessitates
efforts over the long term. Radiological cleanness and
the containment of radioactive substances must remain
a priority.
Labour inspection in the nuclear power plants
ASN continued its inspections concerning subcontracting,
the working times of employees of EDF and of certain
subcontractors, and the conditions of health and safety
during maintenance work and plant operation.
No serious accident occurred in 2015 on either of the two
nuclear power plants. Worker safety on the Fessenheim
site remains a priority subject, but improvements are
required in the application of the prevention measures
in the field.
On the Cattenom site, ASN noted several deviations in
the field regarding the taking into account of risks relating
to asbestos, falling from height and lifting operations.
1.2 Radiation protection
in the medical field
Radiotherapy
ASN carried out 6 inspections in the 9 radiotherapy
departments in Alsace and Lorraine in 2015.
These inspections showed that all the inspected
departments have effectively implemented a quality
assurance and riskmanagement procedure. ASN considers
that the treatment quality and safetymanagement systems
are now up and running within the departments. ASN
also underlines with satisfaction the investment of
personnel in the continuous improvement of treatments
initiative. This investment has resulted, for example, in
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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