Taking Human and organizational factors into account in AREVA NC Cadarache dismantling projects

AREVA NC Cadarache fabricated MOX fuel (fuel assemblies made with a mixture of uranium and plutonium oxides) and FBR fuel (fast breeder reactor) for 40 years. In 2003, commercial fuel fabrication was stopped and the plant began implementing a plan to remove the nuclear material and clean up its two production buildings and laboratory. The objective is to reduce the radiological activity in the process facilities to IAEA level 2 and transferred them back to the owner French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). The type of facilities to be dismantled (glove boxes, tanks, etc.) and the products involved (uranium and plutonium), in the form of powder, require a high degree of manual operation. Human and Organizational Factors (HOF) therefore play a key role in the depth defense concept. (author)