EDF FARN (fast action force in case of nuclear accident) - Focus on radiation protection of workers

Document available in abstract form only. As part of the operation of its nuclear power plants, EDF set up in the 80's an emergency response organisation together with the French public authorities aimed at managing the consequences, especially radiological of any events. This is based on the setting up of emergency plans involving both the operator and the public authorities, at local and national level, with both parties assessing the consequences of a radiological accident in the environment constantly enhanced as part of the continuous improvement process. As the Fukushima accident especially highlighted the relevance of having a response system available off site, this emergency response organisation has been strengthened both with equipment and human resources so as to be able to respond to major accidents further to external hazards. These resources have been designed to factor in a high level of radiological risk. The functions and responsibilities are clearly defined for any event occurring at a nuclear power plant. The operator shall be accountable for the actions to be taken on site concerning technical plant management, worker protection and rescue of casualties. The public authorities shall be accountable for all the measures to be taken off site, especially protection of the local population and environmental monitoring. The EDF emergency response organisation is based on enhanced equipment and human resources at site and corporate level supplemented with EDF corporate and non-EDF resources. The EDF emergency plan covers the situation where all the site units are affected. The decision to set up the nuclear rapid response taskforce was taken further to the Fukushima accident in 2011 and it has been operational since 2012. Integrated in the emergency response organisation, its main aim is to be capable of responding in less than 12 hours to reinstate water, electricity and air supply at the nuclear power plant where the accident has occurred. It is fully operational in an autonomous manner within 24 hours. Within this emergency response context, the radiological risk for the public, incorporated in the ability to reinstate the environmental measurement networks if they have been destroyed is factored into design, mainly with construction of the new emergency response management centre. In addition to the site equipment and human resources, the FARN has personnel trained in RP and stress management in emergency situations, personnel specialised in radiation protection in the field, an RP expert who coordinates response actions in radiation protection terms and a site doctor. Concerning equipment resources, EDF has opted for robust RP equipment common to all its personnel, factoring in Fukushima operating experience, both for worker protection and monitoring and for equipment and procedures appropriate to a high level of background noise. In order to reinstate environmental measurements, modular equipment enables the networks to be increasingly set up as and when the external emergency services arrive. The principle of radiological risk management is based on progressive scheduled enhancement of the different items of RP equipment provided for monitoring and optimum protection of the public and all the emergency response teams, right from the very start and throughout response. The shift crews present on site thus take the first radiation protection actions: worker protection, partial reinstatement of the radiation monitoring network providing the public authorities with information so that they can fulfil their remit of public protection. This approach is supplemented with assessment of release into the atmosphere and analysis of radiological impact using predictive tools at corporate level. Deployment of the FARN with additional input of equipment enables a complete environmental monitoring network to be reinstated within 24 hours, if need be, and additional radiological monitoring equipment to be deployed. Lastly, strengthening of the system with the input of additional national resources ensures sustainable radiological risk management within the more general framework of the recent governmental plan for response to major nuclear accident. Although the current organisation and measures already set up fulfil the requirements for radiological risk management, EDF with its Research and Development Entity deploys the continuous improvement initiative with the research and development of innovative solutions aimed at strengthening worker protection. The areas being developed are: - Preparation of the team for emergency response management in realistic situations of stress (training programmes and simulations); - Communication in the buildings in the event of loss of power; - System of assistance for the participants so that they can understand their environment and ensure their own safety in an autonomous manner; - Remote measurement acquisition and supervision system for response. To sum up, the analysis work conducted by EDF further to the Fukushima accident has demonstrated robustness of the existing arrangements for emergency response management and worker protection. However, EDF has initiated an extensive action and development plan to improve risk prevention in emergency response management, thus factoring in the lessons to be learned from the accident. This action plan focuses on organisational arrangements internal to EDF or related to the public authorities and is based on robustness of existing equipment, a new emergency response management centre, setting up of the FARN and research actions