Construction, start-up and operation of Dukovany nuclear power plant

The Labor Safety Inspectorate have been supervising the construction of the Dukovany nuclear power plant since the construction start in 1977. It was found that in concreting the reactor building walls with concrete mixes, the regulations were not observed on the highest level for the concrete mix drop, and on the gap processing and concrete treatment when concreting was interrupted. Thus, concreting was halted until the conditions for concreting were met. Attention was focused on the protection of the hermetic casing from damage, which had very often happened. A number of shortcomings were detected in storing technology parts. The cleanliness was inspected of the facilities being assembled. The inspections also revealed shortcomings in sealed space tightness. The inspections of assembly and testing of facilities showed failures of the facilities themselves (control valves, electric motors, filter and pump sealing) and of the assembly process. Faults were also detected in electrical equipment. Only a very small part of the installation showed lifetime as specified by Decree 105/1982 Coll. laws on safety assurance in the nuclear power industry. Missing data in documentation led to delays in the start-up stages. The State Surveillance Body also inspected the results of equipment testing. Prior to physical start-up, all production facilities and buildings were inspected, labor safety was inspected for all personnel in communicating corridors, staircases, manholes and onservice and handling posts. Shortcomings were removed. The organization of assembly work was a considerable problem if staff from more organizations had to work together in the same workplace. A list of tasks is presented of State Surveillance Body in operation, maintenance, outages, repairs, and troubleshooting in a nuclear power plant. (J.B.)