On the whole, the inspections carried out by the labour inspectors show that worksite preparation needs to be improved, notably to limit the risks of exposure to asbestos and lead. Lifting operations and traffic rules on the sites are also points considered by the inspectors to merit particular attention. ASNR will be vigilant with regard to the effective deployment of the action plans defined in response by EDF. The labour inspectors also issued reminders concerning the safety requirements during isolated worker situations and the prevention of risks during heat wave episodes. Several requests were also made concerning collective protections against falls from height (maintenance of guard rails, gratings and safety ladders). Finally, the labour inspectors followed up all the events compromising worker safety that had occurred on the sites, systematically initiating inquiries in the event of serious or fatal accidents or serious near accidents. They were also called on to deal with cases relating to psychosocial and working hours risks. According to EDF’s data, ASN finds that overall accident levels in 2024 were 12.7% up on 2023 (+11.5% for accidents with time lost and +13.9% for accidents without time lost). These labour accidents mainly concern tripping, manual handling and handling of objects or tools. In 2024, the social climate was tense on a few occasions, notably when the organisation notes were revised, or with respect to the organisation of the maintenance disciplines. In 2024, the NPPs began a modification of their internal rules of procedure to incorporate an approach to deal with addiction. 3 Continued operation of the Nuclear Power Plants 3.1 The age of the Nuclear Power Plants The NPPs currently in service in France were built over a relatively short period of time: 45 nuclear power reactors representing nearly 50,000MWe, or three-quarters of the power output by all the French nuclear power reactors, were commissioned between 1980 and 1990, and seven reactors, representing 10,000 MWe, between 1991 and 2000. In December 2024, the average age of the 56 reactors in operation (excluding the EPR reactor), calculated from the dates of first divergence, can be broken down as follows: ∙42 years for the 32 nuclear power reactors of 900 MWe; ∙37 years for the 20 nuclear power reactors of 1,300 MWe; ∙27 years for the four nuclear power reactors of 1,450 MWe. 3.2 The periodic safety review The principle of the periodic safety review Every ten years, EDF must carry out a periodic safety review of its installations. The periodic safety reviews of nuclear power reactors comprise the following two steps: ∙A check on the condition and conformity of the facility: this first step aims to assess the situation of the installation with respect to the rules applicable to it. It is based on a range of inspections and tests in addition to those performed in real-time. These verifications may comprise design reviews, field inspections of the equipment, or even ten-yearly tests such as the containment pressure tests. Any deviations detected during these investigations are then restored to conformity within a timeframe commensurate with their potential consequences. Ageing management is also incorporated into this part of the review. ∙The safety reassessment: this second step aims to improve the level of safety, notably taking account of the experience acquired during operation, changing knowledge, the requirements applicable to the more recent installations and international best practices. Following these reassessment studies, EDF identifies the changes it intends to make to its facilities in order to enhance safety. GRAPH 8 Trend in mean individual dosimetry according to the categories of trades of the workers in the NPPs Risk prevention Welders Ancillary Mechanical Expert appraisal Tests Electricity Checksinspections Thermal insulation Administrative 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25 2.50 2.75 3.00 3.25 3.50 Mean dose (mSv) 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 This Graph includes data for the Fessenheim NPP up until 2020 but does not include the data for the Flamanville NPP EPR reactor in 2024. Source : EDF 318 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 The EDF Nuclear Power Plants
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