ASN Report 2018

NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE REGIONAL OVERVIEWOF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND RADIATION PROTECTION of the operational documentation constitutes a weak point for the smooth running of these tests, which introduces a risk of noncompliance with the procedures. Deficiencies in technical control and operational communication were also observed on several occasions. As far as occupational radiation protection is concerned, ASN observes a significant drop in the number of significant event notifications compared with the preceding years. ASN notes that the licensee has met its targets with regard to collective dosimetry and radiological cleanliness of worksites. ASN does nevertheless note a few situations that reveal a lack of radiation protection culture in some workers and a lack of rigour in the management of radioactive sources. With regard to protection of the environment, the licensee has identified the probable origin of the legacy presence of tritium in the captive water table situated beneath the power plant. The presence of tritium is in all likelihood due to leaks in the floors of the nuclear auxiliaries buildings of reactors 3 and 4. It nevertheless has no impact outside the site. ASN considers that the continuation of investigations and the implementation of repairs must be a priority for the site in 2019. ASN notes the substantial efforts made by the licensee to improve themanagement of its radioactive waste in accordance with the applicable rules, which the inspectors had found deficient early in the year. Civaux nuclear power plant The Civaux NPP is operated by EDF in the Vienne département , 30 km south of Poitiers in the Nouvelle- Aquitaine region. It comprises two 1,450 MWe pressurised water reactors. Reactors 1 and 2 constitute BNIs 158 and 159 respectively. The site accommodates one of the regional bases of the Nuclear Rapid Intervention Force (FARN) created by EDF in 2011. ASN considers that the radiation protection and environmental protection performance of the Civaux NPP are on the whole in line with its general assessment of EDF performance, but that its nuclear safety performance falls short of this general assessment. In the area of safety, ASN notes that during the maintenance outages of reactors 1 and 2 the licensee evidenced numerous shortcomings in the preparation, planning and performance of maintenance operations on equipment important for safety. These difficulties led to maintenance non-qualities, which the site has since corrected. ASN considers that the quality of maintenance has deteriorated with respect to the preceding years. EDF has not sufficiently learned the lessons from the maintenance outage of 2017. With regard to the operating activities, ASN considers that reactor operational management is on the whole carried out with rigour, but the site must still make further efforts in this area. ASN considers that radiation protection must be taken into greater consideration in work preparation. ASN considers that the licensee must improve the optimisation of radiation doses received by the workers and improve themanagement of worker access to certain regulated areas in order to limit the risk of exposure to ionising radiation. It notes that radioactive sources are managed with rigour. In the area of environmental protection, ASN considers that the licensee must improve its management strategy for accidental spillages of hazardous products on the site to prevent their transfer into the environment. It also considers that the licensee must improve its management of the microbiological risk and of radioactive waste on its facilities. Labour inspection in the nuclear power plants of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region A tightened inspection at the Blayais NPP revealed a lack of command of the European regulations relative to the chemical risk. ASN will assess the measures taken by the licensee during 2019. Specific investigations were carried out following workplace accidents and in response to specific requests concerning employees of outside companies. A tooling verification request was made on this occasion. At the Civaux NPP, the labour inspectors made observations concerning compliance with the volumes of fresh air supplied in confined spaces, which led the licensee to postpone certain maintenance operations. A tightened inspection highlighted a lack of command of the European regulations relative to the chemical risk. ASN will assess the measures taken by the licensee during 2019. The labour inspectors noted that the inspection perimeter and the follow-up to observations made by an accredited organisation during the regulatory checks had to be improved, particularly in the electrical area. A request to have the electrical systems verified was made at the end of this inspection. Lastly, specific investigations were carried out following workplace accidents and in response to specific requests concerning employees of outside companies. 74  ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2018