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IRSN Annual Report 2008

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IRSN Annual Report 2008 2008 Annual Report Contents ORGANIZATION ....................................... 01 Studies on site environments ........................... 58 Editorial by Agnès BUZYN, Chairperson, Transfer and behavior of radioactive substances in the environment ........................ 60 Board of Directors .............................................. 02 Editorial by Jacques REPUSSARD, Radiation protection in the workplace ............ 61 Director General ................................................. 04 Interview with Michel BRIÈRE, CHALLENGE 4: Security of nuclear Deputy Director General in Charge of facilities and materials .................................... 64 Defense-related Missions .................................. 06 Protection and inspection of Activity in 2008: key figures ............................. 07 nuclear and sensitive materials ........................ 64 Panorama of 2008 .............................................. 08 International inspections in a non-proliferation context .............................. 66 Major reports published in 2008 ..................... 11 Protection against malicious acts .................... 67 IRSN in short ....................................................... 12 IRSN missions ..................................................... 13 CHALLENGE 5: Emergency response ............ 70 Organization chart ............................................. 15 National policy ................................................... 70 Board of Directors .............................................. 16 Steering Committee for the Nuclear Consolidation of emergency response organization ........................................................ 71 Defense Expertise Division ................................ 18 Developing tools ................................................. 72 The Scientific Council ........................................ 19 CHALLENGE 6: Effects of Chronic Exposure .. 74 SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK ................ 20 ENVIRHOM program ......................................... 74 Chronic risks ........................................................ 76 Strategy ............................................................... 22 Training ................................................................ 29 CHALLENGE 7: Protection in Lessons learned ................................................... 30 healthcare ........................................................... 78 Radiopathology .................................................. 78 ACTIVITIES .................................................... 32 Assessments in the medical field ..................... 78 CHALLENGE 1: Safety at existing facilities ... 34 Monitoring facilities and transport .................. 34 ENSURING EFFICIENCY ......................... 80 Fuel safety ........................................................... 41 Quality ................................................................. 82 Fire protection .................................................... 43 Hygiene, safety, and Severe accidents ................................................. 44 environmental protection ................................. 83 Naturally-occuring hazards ............................... 47 Scientific and technical excellence .................. 84 About defense ..................................................... 49 Human resources ................................................ 86 Communications ................................................ 88 CHALLENGE 2: Conducting assessments on future facilities ................................................... 52 Glossary .............................................................. 90 Reactors ............................................................... 52 Geological repositories for radioactive waste .. 54 CHALLENGE 3: Environmental and Financial Report at the end of the Annual population exposure ........................................ 56 Report Environmental exposure .................................... 56 IRSN site details (on flap) 2008 Annual Report EDITORIAL The Institute will assert its vital role as a world- class expert in nuclear assessment In 2008 the Board of Directors was renewed. The board members were chosen to comply Our mission with requirements in our founding charter, resulting in a constructive balance between is based on a unique the ministries directly involved in IRSN’s and diversified quest mission (including the supervisory minis- tries), nuclear safety authorities, Institute for quality that staff representatives, advisory members, including international scientific experts, makes IRSN one and the President of the National Associa- of a kind. tion of Local Information Commissions. By choosing a physician to chair the IRSN Board, public authorities have signaled their inten- tion to reinforce a nuclear culture based on safety in the medical environment, while clearly emphasizing that the essence of the Institute is to serve the public by protecting people from the (harmful) effects of ionizing radiation. The annual report gives IRSN personnel the opportunity to re- view the year’s accomplishments The year 2008 was a particularly busy one for the Institute, especially due to a few together and reflect on the image minor incidents that had no impact on public that we, as a community, project to health, but sparked widespread media cov- those outside our organization. erage, leaving their mark on our collective consciousness. This situation of living with a constantly perceived, and real, risk means we must be extremely vigilant. To begin, we must be vigilant in our core activity: in the various emergency situa- tions that occurred in the summer of 2008, the Institute demonstrated its ability to act reliably as the legitimate national expert, 2 ORGANIZATION _ Annual Report IRSN 2008 ION at NIZ A RG The essence of the Institute’s mission O is to serve the public by protecting people from the effects of ionizing radiation. LOOK T through efficient internal organization and As a public service institution, we have a Our challenge for the future, in a context ND OU the professionalism of its staff. In an era of major role to play. In this respect, the Insti- of high media visibility open to contrasting A renewed interest for the nuclear sector on tute can call on several instruments to serve viewpoints, is first and foremost to affirm RY A both the national and international scene this educational objective, such as its analysis the Institute’s image as a vital world-class and the ensuing diversification of parties reports, which are very complete, precise, expert in nuclear safety and radiation pro- UMM S involved, IRSN must continue to promote a and appropriate for widespread publication, tection, an organization that strives to be nuclear culture based on safety, conducting now appearing as Internet links in the annual responsive, rigorous, impartial, proactive and its expert mission with uncompromising dis- report. The Charter for Openness to Society transparent. The Board of Directors will be cipline, as pressure builds on our personnel. enacted this year should also contribute to vigilant in any decisions that could affect We must therefore endeavor to constantly discussion and dialogue between the various the public service mission of the Institute. It refresh our in-house skills and renew our stakeholders and represents a very construc- will continue to target our goal, essential for staff members, keeping in mind the more tive step in the right direction towards open- society as a whole, to protect people and the attractive sources, especially universities, but ness and transparency in public relations. environment, the commitment that unites also encouraging knowledge-sharing within In parallel, the new governance structure each and every member of IRSN personnel. our ranks. We also need to reflect together initiated by our supervisory ministries, the on how to reorganize our land and building Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection assets, an issue to be confronted in the next Research Policy Committee, aims to explain few years, as we aim to preserve a coherent our research strategy and invites society to TIES I balance between scientific facilities and as- take part in this reflection on the long-term V I T sessment resources in the relevant depart- prospects of research in nuclear safety and C ments, while keeping in mind the efforts this radiation protection. A will require from our staff members. The conclusions of this multidiscipline com- mittee will be taken into consideration as the Agnès BUZYN Vigilant as well in how we communicate, Institute prepares its future strategy plans. Board of Directors Chairperson staying aware of the image we create in the public eye. The Transparency Act states that the various nuclear stakeholders must In conclusion, our mission is based on a provide the public with sufficient information unique and diversified quest for quality on nuclear safety and radiation protection that makes IRSN one of a kind. This pursuit so that people are able to assess the risks must be supported both inside and outside involved. This represents a tremendous step the Institute, and the annual report is one way forward for us as citizens. Transparency of making it known to all of our partners. also implies making information not only accessible, but also comprehensible, through explanation and instruction. ENSURING EFFICIENCY Annual Report IRSN 2008 _ ORGANIZATION 3 EDITORIAL IRSN’s sole ambition is to advance the cause of nuclear
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