Operational safety of nuclear installations - France - OSART mission Blayais nuclear power plant, 13 - 31 January 1992

At the request of the Government of France, an International IAEA Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) of experts visited the Blayais Nuclear Power Station (NPS) near Bordeaux, France, from 13 to 31 January 1992 to review operating practices at the power station and to exchange technical experience and knowledge between the experts and power station counterparts on how the common goal of excellence in operational safety could be pursued. The Blayais OSART review was the third in France. Before the OSART review of the power station, the team studied relevant information made available to them to familiarize themselves with the power station's main features, important programmes and procedures, and the operating record of recent years. At Blayais, the team of experts, using techniques derived from their collective nuclear experience of 163 years, reviewed the power station's operational safety indicators and other documentation, examined procedures and instructions, observed work being carried out and held extensive discussions with power station personnel. Throughout the period of review, there was an open exchange of experience and opinions between the power station personnel and the OSART experts