Pre-OSL: the means to test and optimize the technical operation of the On-Site Laboratory Sellafield (OSL)

An On-Site Laboratory (OSL) is being installed by the Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU) Karlsruhe at the reprocessing plant of Sellafield. Samples taken by EURATOM Safeguards inspectors will be subjected to verification analysis in the OSL. In order to gain already some experience prior to starting the OSL, a pre-OSL was integrated in the analytical laboratories of ITU. The pre-OSL is equipped with the same instrumentation and operates the same analytical techniques as the OSL. It was established for mainly two purposes: 1. Training of staff in using the individual measurement techniques and operating the instrumentation. Continuously testing and improving the skills of the 'inspector analysts' is a major goal of the pre-OSL. In addition, a number of procedures that are essential for the operation of the OSL can already be tested. The flow of information within each team of analysts, the communication between the weekly shifts and the understanding of the laboratory as an entity can be optimized. 2. Testing and optimization of measurement equipment under routine conditions. In an iterative process improved techniques have been tested, evaluated and adapted to the specific needs of routine safeguards analysis. In addition to the actual sample measurement, also the data handling needed to be tested, new programs were developed, aiming at simple and safe data transfer within the OSL. The various modules of this package were implemented in the pre-OSL. For several months the software was evaluated and finally approved and released. The OSL will have to operate in a certain independence from ITU structures and management. Therefore the teams will have to cope with a number of aspects of the laboratory and the analysis on their own The pre-OSL aims at preparing the inspector-analysts to a maximum for the work in the OSL. (author)