Periodic Safety Reviews: Basis and Benefits of Improving Safety

The systematic safety assessments of the Nuclear Research Facility (NRF) should be performed periodically against current safety standards and operating practices on the basis of graded approach with due account to potential hazard associated with a specific facility. The regulatory body should establish regular intervals of safety assessment performed by the operating organization and identify safety aspects and issues to be considered during the assessment (reassessment). The regulatory body should review the results of safety assessment (reassessment) and make decision with regard to the acceptability of the present safety of the NRF and its continued operation for the period until the next review of safety or final shutdown of the NRF. If the safety requirements are not fully met, measures must be taken by the operating organization to provide the required level of safety, including NRF modifications. The report presents the methodology of the Periodic Safety Reviews (PSRs) for a NRF that cover assessment of all aspects of NFR safety, and take into account the cumulative effect of various factors affecting safety. The PSRs make it sure that operation of a licensed NRF will continue in appropriate high safety manner until the planned termination of its activity. (author)