MWe (Megawatt electric) – Unit of electrical power. NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) Federal agency created in 1974 which is independent of the United States Government and is responsible for regulating nuclear safety in the USA and ensuring compliance with the regulations. It ensures the safe use of radioactive materials for civil purposes, while protecting people and the environment. On this account the NRC is responsible for regulating the commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials (such as in the medical field) by granting licenses (design, construction, operation), conducting inspections and ensuring compliance with its requirements. Nuclear safety – All the technical provisions and organisational measures implemented with a view to preventing accidents or mitigating their consequences. They concern the design, construction, functioning, shutdown and decommissioning of basic nuclear installations and the transport of radioactive substances. Nuclear safety is a component of nuclear security which comprises radiation protection, the prevention and combating of malicious acts, as well as civil protection actions in the event of an accident. Nuclear security – Nuclear security covers civil protection in the event of an accident and the protection of facilities against malicious acts, nuclear safety, that is to say the safe functioning of the facility and radiation protection which aims to protect people and the environment against the effects of ionising radiation (“TSN Act” of 13 June 2006). OPECST (Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technical Choices) – Created by the Act of 8 July 1983, its duty is to inform Parliament of the consequences of the scientific and technological choices in order to inform its decisions. It collects information, implements study programmes and carries out assessments. OPRI (Office for Protection against Ionising Radiation) – A public State institution which took over from the Service of Oversight of Protection against Ionising Radiation in 1996, OPRI merged with the Institute of Nuclear Safety and Protection (IPSN). It is now part of the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN). PPI (Off-site emergency plan) – A local plan defined in France to protect the population, property and the environment, to deal with the particular risks associated with the existence of an industrial facility. PUI (On-site emergency plan) – This plan is drawn up and implemented by the industrial operator responsible for a nuclear installation. The aim of the PUI is firstly to protect the personnel working on the nuclear site in the event of an incident or accident, and secondly to mitigate the consequences of the accident outside the bounds of the nuclear site to the maximum extent possible. PWR [reactor] – (Pressurised Water Reactor) Reactor that uses light water both as a moderator (to lower the energy of the neutrons to a level that increases fission efficiency) and as a coolant (to transfer the heat from the core to the steam generator). The French nuclear power reactor programme is based essentially on the development of this technology (with reactors of 900 MWe, 1,300 MWe and 1,450 MWe), which counts the largest number of units in service in the world. QMS (Quality Management System) Inspired by the international standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Organisation for Standardisation – ISO), this system is based on: • an organisation manual containing organisational notes and procedures defining rules for the conduct of each of its missions; • internal and external audits to ensure that the system’s requirements are strictly applied; • listening to stakeholder feedback; • performance indicators for monitoring the effectiveness of action taken; • a periodic review of the system, to foster continuous improvement. Radiation protection – Radiation protection aims to prevent or reduce the health risks linked to ionising radiation, on the basis of three broad principles: justification, optimisation and limitation of radiation doses. To apply these principles, radiation protection implements regulatory and technical means adapted specifically to three categories of persons: the public, patients and workers. RBMK [reactor] – ( Reaktor Bolshoy Moshchnosti Kanalnyi / High-powered reactor with pressures tubes) Soviet-designed nuclear reactor, used notably in the Chernobyl NPP (Ukraine). RHWG (Reactor Harmonization Working Group) – Mandated by WENRA to develop a harmonised approach to the nuclear safety of in-service nuclear power plants, the RHWG developed the WENRA safety reference levels for the existing power plants. These reference levels are approved by the association members. They reflect the practices which must be implemented in the WENRA member countries. SCPRI (Central Service for Protection against Ionising Radiation) – A former French public body created in 1956 and attached to the Ministry of Health, the SCPRI's mission was to protect the public and nuclear industry workers against the dangers of ionising radiation. It was replaced on 19 July 1994 by the Office for Protection against Ionising Radiation (OPRI). SCSIN (Nuclear Installations Central Safety Service) – Created by decree within the Ministry of Industry in 1973, the SCSIN was responsible for preparing and implementing all the technical actions relative to nuclear safety: regulations, coordination of safety studies, nuclear information. It was also responsible for examining the authorisation application files relating to basic nuclear installations. It was replaced by the Nuclear Installations Safety Directorate (DSIN) in 1991. ••• Nuclear accidents and developments in nuclear safety and radiation protection • 35
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