In 2023, the ASN inspectors carried out a total of 1,790 inspections, representing 4,136 inspection man.days in the field. About 1% of the inspections were carried out remotely. The breakdown per area of activity is shown in Table 4. ASN inspections programme To guarantee a distribution of the inspection resources with a graded approach to the safety and radiation protection implications of the various facilities and activities, ASN drafts a forecast inspections schedule every year, taking account of the inspection implications (see point 3.1). The results of the year’s priority actions are presented in the specific chapters for nuclear installations and activities. For example, an inspection campaign on management of the correct configuration of fluids and electrical systems of the nuclear reactors was carried out in 2023. Its conclusions are detailed in chapter 10. This inspection programme is not communicated to the licensees or to those in charge of 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 on-line, on asn.fr. Moreover, after each in-depth inspection, ASN publishes an information notice on asn.fr. 3.1.3 Inspection of Basic Nuclear Installations and Pressure Equipment In 2023, 2,458 inspector.days were devoted to the on-site field inspection of BNIs and NPE, corresponding to 856 inspections. Of these, 21% were unannounced. Furthermore, nine inspections were conducted remotely. Inspection work in the field can be broken down into 1,257 inspector. days in the NPPs (401 on-site inspections), 841 inspector.days in the other BNIs (313 on-site inspections), that is mainly the “fuel cycle” facilities, research facilities and installations undergoing decommissioning, and 360 for NPE (142 on-site inspections). The remote inspections can be broken down as follows: three inspections for the NPPs, one inspection for the other BNIs and five inspections for NPE. Three in-depth inspections were conducted in 2023 on the Nogent-sur-Seine NPP and the Flamanville EPR, as well as on the Romans-sur-Isère site operated by Framatome, corresponding to 144 inspector.days on-site. In addition, the ASN labour inspectors also carried out 477 interventions during the 149 inspection days in the NPPs. 3.1.4 Inspection of radioactive substance transport In 2023, 148 inspector.days were devoted by ASN to on-site inspection of transport activities, corresponding to 87 on-site inspections. Of these, 14% were unannounced. One remoteinspection was also carried out. 3.1.5 Inspection of small-scale nuclear activities ASN organises its inspection activity so that it is with a graded approach to the radiological issues involved in the use of ionising radiation and consistent with the actions of the other inspection services. In 2023, 1,429 inspector.days were devoted to on-site inspections of small-scale nuclear activities, corresponding to 768 inspections, 6% of which were unannounced, plus three remote inspections. This inspection work was notably distributed among the medical, industrial, veterinary, research or naturally occurring radioactivity fields. 3.1.6 Inspection of ASN approved organisations and laboratories ASN carries out a second level of inspection on approved organisations and laboratories. In addition to reviewing the application file and issuing the approval, this comprises surveillance actions such as: ∙ approval audits (initial or renewal audit); ∙ checks to ensure that the organisation and operation of the entity concerned comply with the applicable requirements; ∙ supervisory checks, which are usually unannounced, to ensure that the organisation’s staff work in satisfactory conditions. In 2023, 100 inspector.days were devoted to checking approved organisations and laboratories, corresponding to 57 inspections, 21% of which were unannounced, plus nine remote inspections. TABLE Breakdown of on-site inspection days by topic in 2023 PER FIELD NUMBER OF INSPECTOR DAYS NUMBER OF ON-SITE INSPECTIONS PERFORMED Basic Nuclear Installation /Pressurised water reactor 1,257 401 Basic Nuclear Installation/Laboratories plants waste and decommissioning 841 313 Basic Nuclear Installation/Pressure Equipment 360 142 Small-scale nuclear activities/Industry 467 255 Small-scale nuclear activities/Medical 794 400 Small-scale nuclear activities/Natural radioactivity 39 32 Small-scale nuclear activities/Polluted sites and ground 5 4 Small-scale nuclear activities/Research 91 54 Small-scale nuclear activities/Veterinary 25 19 Small-scale nuclear activities/Other 6 4 Transport of radioactive substances 148 87 Approved organisations/Approved laboratories 100 57 Total (*) 4,136 1,768 * The fact that the various numbers are rounded off gives a total slightly different from the sum of each line. 5 152 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2023 • 03 • Regulation of nuclear activities and exposure to ionising radiation
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