OSART guidelines - 2005 edition. Reference report for IAEA Operational Safety Review Teams (OSARTs)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has put forward the vision of a global nuclear safety regime that provides for the protection of people and the environment from the effects of ionizing radiation from nuclear facilities, the minimization of the likelihood of accidents that could endanger life and property and effective mitigation of the effects of any such events should they occur. The strategic approach for achieving the vision of enhancing this regime involves four elements and aims at ensuring that the overall nuclear safety level in Member States continues to improve: - Improvement of national and international safety infrastructures: - Establishment and global acceptance of IAEA safety standards. - Integrated approach to the provision for the application of safety standards. And - Global network of knowledge and experience. The IAEA Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) programme provides advice and assistance to Member States to enhance the safety of nuclear power plants during commissioning and operation. The OSART programme, initiated in 1982, is available to all Member States with nuclear power plants under commissioning or in operation. The OSART methodology and its safety services may also be applied to other nuclear installations (e.g. fuel cycle facilities, research reactors). Conservative design, careful manufacture and sound construction are all prerequisites for safe operation of nuclear power plants. However, the safety of the plant depends ultimately on sound policies, procedures, processes and practices. On the capability and reliability of the commissioning and operating personnel. On comprehensive instructions. And on adequate resources. A positive attitude and conscientiousness on the part of the management and staff in discharging their responsibilities is important to safety. OSART missions consider these aspects in assessing a facility's operational practices in comparison with those used successfully in other countries and when exchanging ideas, at the working level, for enhancing safety. The OSART programme is based on the IAEA's Nuclear Safety Standard Series (Fundamentals, Requirements and Safety Guides) for nuclear power plants and the Basic Safety Standards for Radiation Protection. The Nuclear Safety Standards reflect the consensus of Member States on nuclear safety matters. The reports of the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group, identifying important current nuclear safety issues also serve as references during an OSART review. The OSART Guidelines provide overall guidance for the experts to ensure the consistency and comprehensiveness of the operational safety review. Additional guidance and reference material prepared by the IAEA and the expertise of the OSART members contribute to the bases of the review. OSART reviews are performance oriented in that they accept different approaches to commissioning and operational safety that represent good practices and may contribute to ensuring a good safety record on the part of the operating organization. Recommendations are made on items of direct relevance to safety, whereas suggestions made might enhance plant safety indirectly but would certainly improve performance. Commendable good practices identified at plants are communicated to other plants where relevant in order to effect improvements. This revision of the OSART guidelines supersedes the 1994 Edition (IAEA-TECDOC-744)