ASN Report 2015

ASNnoted thepersonnel’s higher level

of expertise regarding the explosion

risk but considers that EDF must

devote greater effort to training and

exercises for the response crews. ASN

doeshoweverconsiderthatinsufficient

account is takenof the lessons learned

from events on all the reactors.

ASN considers that the organisation

in place on the sites for managing

skills, qualifications and training is

on thewhole satisfactory and that the

management processes are generally

well-documented and coherent.

Generally speaking, the training

programmes are run satisfactorily.

Nonetheless, the range of training

proposedby certain sites is not always

adaptedrapidlyenough.Furthermore,

the persons concerneddonot always

receive the scheduled training.

In general, EDF devotes significant

investment to hiring and training,

in order to anticipate the necessary

renewal of skills. Given the expected

departures and the work to be done

by EDF in the coming years, ASN

considers that EDFneeds to continue

its efforts with regard to hiring and

training.

ASN considers EDF’s approach for

improved integrationof organisational

andhuman factors in the engineering

departments to be pertinent.

Nonetheless, EDF must continue

with its efforts in order to achieve

the expected effects.

ASN observes that the collective

dosimetry on all the reactors was

slightlydown in2015by comparison

with 2014 and that the regulation

annual limit for external whole-body

dosimetry was never exceeded in

2015. ASN notes that the collective

dose has been stable for about ten

years now, reflecting the increased

volume of maintenance work in

controlled areas, combined with

continued optimisation efforts. ASN

considers that weaknesses remain in

the control of industrial radiography

operations and that of the dispersion

of contamination inside the reactor

building continues to be inadequate,

owing toworksite containment faults

or a lackof signallingof contamination

levels.

ASNconsiders that EDF’s organisation

for thenuisance and impact control of

NPPsontheenvironmentissatisfactory

on most sites and is progressing,

more specifically with improved

assimilation of the regulations.

Monitoringof dischargeobjectives and

integration of operating experience

feedback remain an area requiring

progress. Waste management is on

thewhole progressing but could still

be improved.

TheASNassessments of eachNPP are

detailed inchapter 8of the report. The

Penly, FessenheimandSaint-Laurent-

des-Eaux sites stand out positively

in this general assessment, while

Cruas and Gravelines are however

under-performing.

Manufacturing of pressure

equipment

ASN observes that the justifications

anddemonstrations provided by the

manufacturerswith regard tonuclear

pressure equipment regulations are

still regularly unsatisfactory. As of

the first half of 2015, EDF andAreva

therefore tookorganisationalmeasures

to improve their practices and bring

them into line with the regulatory

requirements. ASN considers this

approach to be a positive one and

will be attentive to ensuring that it is

seen through to completion.

Outlook

In 2016, ASN will issue a ruling on

the orientation of the generic studies

to be carried out in preparation for

the fourth periodic safety reviews of

the nuclear reactors, after consulting

the public on the draft additional

requirements to be sent to EDF

concerning its design andverification

programme.

Monitoring the implementationof the

material andorganisationalmeasures

prescribed following the Fukushima

Daiichi accident remains a priority for

ASN. In 2016, ASN will be heavily

involved in examining the design,

constructionandoperatingprovisions

adopted by EDF.

2016 will also see continued

examination of the commissioning

authorisation application for the

Flamanville 3 EPR reactor. ASN

will examine the detailed design

of the reactor and will monitor the

construction and the preparation

for the start-up tests. It will examine

the file that Areva intends to submit

concerning the reactor vessel anomaly.

In 2016, ASN will continue the

extensive work it initiated in 2015

with themanufacturers, licensees and

organisations it approves, regarding

the drafting of professional baseline

requirements and conformity

evaluation baseline requirements.

Finally, ASN will ensure that the

ongoing reorganisation of the

industrial players takes account of

the safety issues and that the safety

improvementmeasures alreadyunder

way are continued.

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

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN 2015