CNCAN 3

Enhancement of CNCAN capabilities for Inspections

 

Purpose:

To strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of the inspection/control processes implemented by the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN) and NRPA and to improve the cooperation between these national competent authorities in the nuclear field.

To develop  the inspection process and specific procedures for all areas of regulatory oversight.

 

Background:

During the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission in Romania held in January 2011 it was observed by the IRRS team that the CNCAN inspection staff is extremely qualified, competent and dedicated to safety. However, there is currently no formalized training programme for the new staff, nor a formalized refreshment training programme for the existing inspectors. A formalized training programme, concerning in particular the radiation protection and the broader aspects of regulation  is important for enabling safety judgments to be made on a sound priority basis. Furthermore, the IRRS team noted that CNCAN did not implement a formal qualification / requalification systems for its technical staff nor inspectors as well as a formalized process for inspection finding sharing between inspectors, in particular to coordinate CNCAN inspector activities, to collect feedback information and to use it to improve the regulatory process.

The IRRS team provided several recommendations and suggestions for the improvement of the regulatory inspection process, such as: to establish a consistent and comprehensive inspector training programme and qualification process; to establish a systematic and comprehensive inspection programme based on a graded safety approach and formally describe its processes in procedures for consistency of regulatory practices; to include in its procedures a programme to monitor, share and follow-up inspection findings; to develop adequate internal procedures and guidance for the review and assessment and for inspection for all nuclear facilities.

 

 

Results:

The programme will achieve its purpose described here above and in particular delivered:

 

  • A systematic and comprehensive inspection programme based on a graded safety approach formalized through the inspection process;

  • Inspection procedures;

  • Trained CNCAN staff  involved in inspection activities;

  • 7  laptops for inspection activities;

  • A consistent and comprehensive inspector training programme and qualification process;

  • Training materials supporting the inspector training programme and qualificationprocess;

  • A comprehensive SCOP programme and appropiate trained CNCAN and NRPA staff involved in inspections and implementation of SCOP;

  • Updated practical inspection guidelines for gathering safety culture relevant information from the review of documents, observation of activities and interviews with licensee’s staff.