- 196 - to ionising radiation, and the possible impact of the situation in terms of security, safety and the quality of maintenance. Finally, ASN considers that the consequences of EDF's buying policy on working conditions, safety, quality and the application of social and labour laws must be assessed more objectively. There is in particular the question of the actual weight given to the "best bidder" criteria in the contracting process which, even though explicitly presented in the CSA reports, are backed up by no actual figures. ASN will be asking EDF to add to the information transmitted about the contractor selection procedures and their implications for safety. 7.2.2 Steps taken to ensure satisfactory working conditions for the contractor companies In its specifications, ASN asks for a description of the steps taken to ensure satisfactory working conditions for the contractor companies and a description of the organisation put in place for radiation protection of the workers. In the CSA reports, EDF states that the working conditions of the contractor companies are officially laid out, first of all through the "Implementing an Attractive Industrial Policy" (MOPIA) project, aimed at enhancing EDF's attractiveness to contractor personnel. The MOPIA project was launched in 2008, and includes all aspects from industrial policy (decision to subcontract, definition of requirements, management of panels, etc.), to buying (selection strategy, types of contract, etc.), to relations with the contractors (social aspects, living standards on the sites, etc.). More precisely, according to EDF, the MOPIA project "mainly concerns the following topics: placing innovative contracts giving most weight to the "best bidder", incorporating a significant bonus system; helping companies renew and develop the skills of their staff; improve the quality of the work; continue to improve safety results, further improve the living standards of the workers on nuclear sites." The MOPIA project is a follow-on from the "Progress and Sustainable Development Charter" signed in January 2004 by 13 professional organisations, which formalizes the conditions for the work done by contractor companies. This charter "is binding upon the signatories in the following areas: developing the professionalism of the participating workers; equal health monitoring; the same nuclear safety training; the same risk prevention and recycling training for contractor and EDF personnel; transparency in the tendering process; improved workload visibility; reduction in both individual and collective dosimetry; improved risk prevention; improved working conditions and conditions around the sites; cleanness and environmental protection". Subsequently, EDF Corporate Management and three trade union organisations signed an agreement on "socially responsible subcontracting" in October 2006. In the CSA reports, EDF details a range of actions taken since 2006, to facilitate the life of the contractor staff on the sites, such as free provision of caretaker services, the provision of cloakrooms and sanitary facilities and transport services using EDF staff buses, internet wifi access, etc. Since 2000, contractor satisfaction has been measured by a barometer which, over the past 5 years, has revealed a high degree of satisfaction with regard to criteria such as "being made to feel welcome", "quality of accommodation", "rigorous safety" and "quality of radiological cleanness". EDF also mentions points on which there is dissatisfaction, in particular "wasted time" and "information about scheduling changes". With regard to the medical monitoring of the employees of the contractor companies, EDF states that this is carried out by their employers, through the locally competent Joint Contractor Medical Services (SMIE). In the CSA reports, EDF states that it is bearing the financial cost of enhanced medical monitoring of the contractors, through agreements signed with the joint contractor health services of which the contractors are members. EDF is aiming for a dose limit target of 18 mSv/year for all workers, a more ambitious threshold than that set out in the French regulations. EDF states that "this threshold could be lowered in the coming months". Moreover, according to EDF: "The efforts made by EDF, and shared by the contractor companies, are leading to a significant and regular fall in individual and collective dosimetry. Since 2001, nobody has exceeded 20 mSv/year and, since September 2005, nobody has exceeded 18 mSv/year". For temporary or fixed-term contract workers from outside contractors, EDF recalls the regulations, stipulating that radiation protection "is controlled by rules that are stricter than for permanent contracts". These workers do not intervene in areas where the dose rate is higher than 2 mSv/h and their dose limit is proportional to the duration of the employment contract. EDF points out that "As a result of this obligation, the dose already received
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