ASN Report 2020

∙ by encouraging its staff to take part in inspections on subjects in different regions and fields, notably to ensure the uniformity of its practices. Each ASN inspector in a particular region takes part in at least one inspection performed in a different region. This rule was considerably relaxed in 2020 owing to the Covid-19 context and the need, at certain times, to avoid the spread of the virus between regions. Table 3 presents the headcount of inspectors, which stood at 320 on 31 December 2020. Some inspectors operate in several inspection areas, and all the operational entity heads and their deputies fulfil both managerial and inspection functions. Most of the inspections are carried out by inspectors assigned to the regional divisions, who represent 55% of the ASN inspectors. The 145 inspectors assigned to the departments take part in ASN inspections within their field of competence; they represent 45% of the inspector headcount and carried out 13% of inspections in 2020, with most of their work being the examination of files. As previously mentioned, ASN continuously improves the efficiency of its oversight by targeting and modulating its inspections (graded approach) according to the scale of the implications for the protection of persons and the environment. In 2020, the ASN inspectors carried out a total of 1,573 inspec­ tions, representing 2,607 inspection man-days in the field and including 320 remote inspections, broken down into areas as shown in Table 4. ASN inspections programme To guarantee a distribution of the inspection resources that is proportionate to the safety and radiation protection implications of the various facilities and activities, ASN drafts a planned inspections schedule every year, taking account of the inspection implications in terms of risk (see point 3.1). This programme is not communicated to either the licensees or to those responsible for nuclear activities. ASN monitors the performance of the programme and the follow-up given to the inspections, through periodic reviews. This follow-up enables the inspected activities to be assessed and contributes to the continuous improvement of the inspection process. Information relative to the inspections ASN informs the public of the steps taken following the inspections by posting the inspection follow-up letters online, on asn.fr . Moreover, for each in-depth inspection, ASN published an information notice on asn.fr . 3.1.3 Inspection of Basic Nuclear Installations and Pressure Equipment In 2020, 1,579 inspector-days were devoted to the on-site field inspection of BNIs and NPE, corresponding to 632 inspections. 17% of the inspections were unannounced. 119 remote inspections were also carried out. In the NPPs, inspection work in the field can be broken down into 850 inspector-days (343 on-site inspections), 565 inspector-days in the other BNIs (226 on-site inspections), that is mainly the “fuel cycle” facilities, research facilities and installations undergoing decommissioning, and 165 for NPE (63 on-site inspections). The remote inspection work entailed 59 inspections for the NPPs, 41 inspections for the other BNIs and 19 inspections for NPE. In the light of the increased risk of spreading the virus as a result of in-depth inspections, none were performed in 2020. The ASN labour inspectors also carried out 1,045 interventions during the 187 inspection-days in the NPPs. 3.1.4 Inspection of radioactive substances transport 89 inspector-days were devoted by ASN to on-site inspection of transport activities, corresponding to 48 on-site inspections. 18% of these inspections were unannounced. In addition, 14 remote inspections were carried out. 3.1.5 Inspection of small-scale nuclear activities ASN organises its inspection activity so that it is proportionate to the radiological issues involved in the use of ionising radiation and consistent with the actions of the other inspection services. In 2020, 824 inspector-days were devoted to on-site inspections of small-scale nuclear activities, corresponding to 500 on-site inspections, 11% of which were unannounced, plus 168 remote inspections. This inspection work was more particularly divided among the medical, industrial and research and veterinary sectors. TABLE 3 Breakdown of inspectors per inspection field as at 31 December 2020 INSPECTOR CATEGORIES DEPARTMENTS DIVISIONS TOTAL Nuclear Safety Inspector 108 118 226 including nuclear safety inspectors for transport 15 31 46 Radiation protection inspector 37 102 139 Labour inspector 2 17 19 Number of inspectors all f ields 145 175 320 TABLE 4 Number of inspections per field BNIs (EXCLUDING PRESSURE EQUIPMENTS) PRESSURE EQUIPMENTS TRANSPORT OF RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES SMALL-SCALE NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES APPROVED ORGANISATIONS AND LABORATORIES TOTAL 669 82 62 668 92 1,573 154 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2020 03 – REGULATION OF NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES AND EXPOSURE TO IONISING RADIATION