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1.3.2 Supervision of pressure vessels

Within the ASN, a specific sub-directorate is in charge of monitoring application of regulations concerning the main primary system and the main secondary systems for pressurised water reactors as well as all pressure vessels in the nuclear field.

It directly supervises the construction (design and manufacture) of the main primary and secondary systems (CPP and CSP) (see chapter 12 point 3.1). In-service supervision of the main primary and secondary systems, as of all other pressure vessels, is the responsibility of the relevant DRIRE.

1.3.3 Examination of significant events

The DSNRs are responsible for immediately investigating significant events in all basic nuclear installations, to check that immediate corrective measures are implemented and, if necessary, to prepare the necessary information of the public. The ASN ensures co-ordination of DSNR action in this field and provides suitable training courses each year for the engineers concerned.

Examination of a significant event by the DSNR involves compliance with the rules in force concerning detection and declaration of significant events, the immediate technical steps taken by the operator to keep the installation in or bring it to a safe condition and finally, the pertinence of the significant event reports provided by the operator.

A subsequent examination of event experience feedback is conducted by the ASN and its technical support organisations, particularly the IRSN. The data supplied by the DSNRs and analysis of significant event reports, together with periodic records sent in by the operators, form the basis of the ASN operating feedback structures. This operating feedback is notably put to practical use during the periodic safety reviews of plants and by means of requests for improvements in the condition of plants and in the organisational provisions made by the operator.

"LOCAL" NUCLEAR SUPERVISION

2.1

Scope of supervision

The basic international standards for protection against ionising radiation and the safety of radioactive sources issued by the IAEA define the general functions of the regulatory authority (see box on following page).

In France, the ASN performs the role of regulatory authority, through its duty of drafting and monitoring technical regulations in the field of radiation protection. Decree 2002-255 of 22 February 2002 also states that the DGSNR is responsible for organising radiation protection inspections as provided for in the Public Health Code and its implementing texts, and for coordinating all inspections contributing to monitoring of radiation protection in the industrial, medical and research fields, including the monitoring of sources of ionising radiation used in these fields.

The scope of radiation protection supervision by the ASN thus extends to the use of ionising radiation in all nuclear activities defined in article L. 1333-1 of the Public Health Code. This duty is performed jointly with other inspection organisations such as the labour inspectorate, the inspectorate for classified installations and the French Health Products Safety Agency (AFSSAPS).

The basic international standards comprise:

" – the examination of requests for authorisation to carry out practices entailing or potentially entailing exposure;
– authorisation of these practices and their corresponding sources in certain conditions;
– performance of periodic inspections designed to check that the conditions are met and, as necessary, the application of measures designed to ensure compliance with the regulations and standards.

Mechanisms must therefore be available for declaring, recording and issuing licences for the sources involved in these practices as well making provision, in certain conditions, for exclusion or indeed exemption of sources and practices from the scope of application of the regulations. Steps must also be taken to ensure supervision, radiological monitoring, examination, verification and inspection of sources and ensure that adequate plans are in place to deal with radiological accidents and provide the necessary emergency response (see chapter 8, point 1).

The regulatory authority may need to provide additional information on how to comply with certain regulations applicable to various practices, for example by publishing regulatory guides.

A climate of openness and cooperation must be encouraged between the inspectors and the individuals or corporate bodies subject to the regulations, in particular so that they facilitate inspector access to both premises and information.

The regulatory authority is also responsible for requiring that all parties concerned establish a safety culture consisting in:
– an individual and collective commitment to safety on the part of the workers, managers and regulatory bodies;
– accountability on the part of each and every individual with regard to protection and safety, in particular at management level;
– measures designed to encourage a systematically questioning attitude, the desire to learn and a refusal to take existing safety results for granted.

The regulatory authority and the individuals and corporate bodies subject to the regulations must take due account of general experience and of the most recent innovations in the fields of radiological protection and source safety."

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