The IAEA operational safety review team programme

In 1982, the IAEA set up the Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) programme, under which international expert teams make in-depth three week reviews of operational safety practices at nuclear power plants (NPPs). The OSART reviews offer excellent opportunities for the exchange of experience between expert team members and operating organization staff on how to improve safety performance. The missions deal with important areas of operational safety, including plant management, personnel training, operation, technical support, radiation protection and emergency planning. OSART does not advocate a single proven approach, but supports alternative approaches that can contribute to a plant's drive for enhanced operational safety. An OSART mission comprises 10 to 12 experts, external consultants recruited from NPPs, utilities and regulatory authorities for reactor specific expertise, and IAEA staff to ensure consistency between reviews. OSART Guidelines have been developed, based on IAEA Safety Series publications, applicable national rules and experience from OSARTs. A technical document on the major results of the first 18 OSART reviews (1983-1987) has been published. As of April 1988, a total of 25 OSART missions had been carried out. All NPPs visited were being operated without causing undue risk to the health and safety of plant personnel or the general public. However, room for further improvements was discovered, particularly in those areas where human factors play a major role. The most important recommendations made concerned advanced management methods, preparedness to cope with emergencies and the comprehensive feedback of operating experience. All plants visited were responsive to the teams' proposals and actions were often initiated while the teams were still present at the site. (author). 3 refs, 3 tabs