ASN uses various types of inspections: ∙routine inspections, usually two inspectors for one day; ∙reinforced inspections, which consist in conducting an in-depth examination of a targeted topic by a larger team of inspectors than for a routine inspection; ∙joint inspections, which take place over several days, concern a number of topics and involve about ten or so inspectors. Their purpose is to carry out detailed examinations and they are overseen by senior inspectors; ∙inspections with sampling and measurements. With regard to both discharges and the environment of the facilities, these are designed to check samples that are independent of those taken by the licensee; ∙event-based inspections carried out further to a particularly significant event; ∙worksite inspections, ensuring a significant ASN presence on the sites on the occasion of reactor outages or particular work, especially in the construction or decommissioning phases; ∙inspection campaigns, grouping inspections performed on a large number of similar installations, following a predetermined template. Labour inspectorate work in the NPPs entails various types of interventions(1), which more particularly involve: ∙checking application of the Labour Code by EDF and outside contractors in the NPPs (verification operations that include inspections); ∙participation in meetings of the CSSCT, of Social and Economics Committees and the inter-company committees on safety and working conditions; ∙conducting inquiries on request, following complaints or based on information, further to which the inspectors may take decisions as specified by the labour regulations, such as cessation of the works or the obligation to have the work equipment verified by an accredited organisation. 1. The intervention is the unit representative of activity traditionally used by the labour inspectorate. Remote inspections can be performed by the inspectors, in conjunction with on-site inspections. This tool is suitable for certain inspection topics. On-site inspection however remains the preferred method of verification. Only a few percent of the inspections are performed remotely each year. The implementation of remote inspection measures in 2020 required that ASN modify the inspection indicators. For this type of inspection, the critical review of documents transmitted by a party responsible for a nuclear activity, during the on-site inspection preparation phases, becomes the primary method. It is then no longer possible to differentiate between preparation of the inspection, involving this documentary examination, and the inspection itself. The following paragraphs will therefore present the number of inspector.days corresponding to the on-site inspections and the number of remote inspections. The number of inspector.days in these paragraphs cannot therefore be directly compared with that of years before 2020, because it only reflects the time spent on the site and does not take account of the remote inspections. In addition, Table 5 (see next page) presents the total number of inspector.days devoted to inspections, whether performed on-site, remotely, or using a combination of the two. ASN sends the licensee an inspection follow-up letter, published on asn.fr, which officially documents: ∙deviations between the situation observed during the inspection and the regulations or documents produced by the licensee pursuant to the regulations; ∙anomalies or aspects warranting additional justifications; ∙best practices or practices to which improvements could be made, even if not directly constituting requirements. The requests contained in the follow-up letters may concern requests for corrective actions or additional information, in the light of the deviations found during the inspections. The follow-up letter prioritises the actions requested by ASN, so that the licensees can also implement a graded approach to processing the deviations found and optimise coordination of the means at their disposal. The actual performance of the actions requested by ASN is followed up in a manner proportional to the issues at stake. Thus the priority action requests undergo exhaustive checks when their deadlines expire. The other requests are monitored by sampling, using appropriate methods (documentary check, follow-up inspection, etc.). Any non-compliance found during the inspection can lead to administrative or criminal penalties (see point 7). Some inspections are carried out with the support of one or more IRSN representatives specialised in the installation checked or the technical topic of the inspection. ASN inspectors ASN has inspectors designated and accredited by its Chairman, pursuant to Article L. 596-2 of the Environment Code for nuclear safety inspectors and Article L. 1333-29 of the Public Health Code for radiation protection inspectors, subject to their having acquired the requisite legal and technical skills through professional experience, mentoring or training courses. The inspectors take an oath and are bound by professional secrecy. They exercise their inspection activity under the authority of the ASN Director General and benefit from regularly updated practical tools (inspection guides, decision- making tools) to assist them in their inspections. TABLE 3 Breakdown of inspectors per inspection field as at 31 December 2024 Inspector Categories Departments Divisions Total Nuclear safety inspectors 142 128 270 including nuclear safety inspectors for transport 31 45 76 Radiation protection inspectors 39 100 139 Labour inspectors 3 21 24 Inspectors for all fields 164 168 332 TABLE 4 Number of inspections per field in 2024 Basic nuclear installation (except pressure equipment) Pressure equipment Transport of radioactive substances Small-scale nuclear activities Approved Organisations and Laboratories Total 744 142 91 764 72 1,813 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 153 01 Regulation of nuclear activities and exposure to ionising radiation 03 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 AP 02 04
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