[en] The aim of this document is to list the good practices in the preparation and performance of vendor inspections and in addressing any findings: Preparation phase (Planning, Team composition and inspection assignments, Inspection scope, regulations and guidance, Inspection plan/Agenda, Announcement, Practical and logistical aspects), Performing the inspection (Site entrance, Opening Meeting, Handling inspection items and records, Feedback meetings), Deliverables and finding resolution (Inspection report, Finding letter, Resolution)

[en] The feedback experience of the Fukushima accident has led to 4 kinds of consequences. First, complementary assessment of safety have been performed in each nuclear facility to evaluate the safety margin for exceptional natural disasters. Secondly, the conformity to safety requirements of nuclear facilities has to be checked continuously because it can be altered by modifications made on the facility or by maintenance activities. Thirdly, the safety standard framework has to be upgraded in order to take into account some accidents in a cumulative way. Fourthly, the social, humane and organizational factors have to be taken into account and issues like sub-contracting, staff training,or the loss of expertise have to be dealt with. (A.C.)

[en] The verification of compliance with radiation protection requirements in a given country is implemented by its regulatory authority in order to determine if sources are used according to the requirements established by regulations and the conditions reflected in the licence, registration or authorization granted to the user. The paper summarizes the principal elements of any programme for the verification of compliance. Inspections are the most important of these elements; the types, aims and frequencies of inspections and the preparations needed for them are discussed. Special attention is paid to occupational monitoring and surveillance of workplaces. The main difficulties of the national regulatory authorities at their earliest stages of development are discussed. Also discussed is the way in which periodic reports, user reports on abnormal situations and the systematic assessment of enforcement actions and the revalidation of authorization can help the regulatory authority to verify compliance. The paper emphasizes the difficulties of regulatory authorities in developing countries in verifying compliance, and in particular difficulties relating to the authority given by the government, the financial resources made available and the qualification of personnel. (author)

[en] The scope of this paper is to offer methods to document energy saving projects. The examples used are based on actual industrial facilities. I will define concepts to be used in the analysis of the industrial work place energy consumption. With the concepts defined we can begin to apply the documentation strategy for some specific examples. Why should we be interested in auditing the results of energy projects? Nearly every industrial facility has embarked on the road to energy efficiency. As one of my plant engineer associates relates open-quotes If all our energy saving programs were working as stated the power company would be paying us.close quotes The underlying principles in this statement are true. Does it mean we as technicians, engineers and managers of energy projects have failed? No, we have however failed to finish the job and document there results. My experience has shown there is good support and enthusiasm for those energy projects we begin. It is also my experience that a well documented successful project provides many levels of satisfaction. Large energy management projects involve a major financial commitment. Documenting the results provides all those who supported the project from finance, management and the technical staff the positive reinforcement to support your future projects. We should begin by defining what an energy audit is and what is the expected result of an audit

[en] Elevating human performance and minimizing non-compliance errors is an ongoing challenge for owners and operators of nuclear facilities. Enforcing procedural compliance in the workplace with a new set of processes that simplify communication to and from the field, and improve information flow, will be a key to addressing the issue. This paper will provide an overview of the factors contributing to human performance non-compliance, the development of current industry practices with a focus on the existing gap, and the impact of handheld technology on effective communication with the field and its resultant impact on improving procedural compliance. (author)

[en] This paper examines how effectively working with students and contractors can engage small commercial businesses in energy efficiency measures. Small commercial businesses are an underserved and hard-to-reach market for energy efficiency services. Yet, this sector comprises a significant percentage of all businesses and aggregate energy usage. Two main barriers to doing an energy retrofit in small businesses include getting the business to agree to participate and getting them to implement suggested measures. Student outreach addresses the first, and using a mechanical or electrical contractor as an ESCO is a great way to address the second. The Awareness for Community Energy (ACE) Program is currently being offered throughout the United States. ACE employs high school and college students as interns and trains them in small business energy auditing. The business more readily accepts the marketing of energy services by a student, since it is seen as an opportunity to contribute to a student's educational experience. In one case, ACE program participants audited over 150 small businesses in a three-month period. Electrical and mechanical contractors are prime candidates to both disseminate information on energy efficiency and carry out the necessary retrofits. The owners of most energy using facilities already have trusted mechanical/electrical service contractors. By diffusing ESCO concepts amongst existing service contractors, there is a far greater chance of upgrading the energy efficiency throughout the small business sector. Such diffusion activities will involve training and awareness programs for contractors, as well as encouragement of financial institutions to develop supportive financing products

[en] Time, money and resources are being wasted completing alternative compliance evaluations that have already been completed, reviewed and accepted. As Codes and Standards are updated new requirements are introduced. Not all facilities will satisfy these requirements. The design criteria of the installed fire protection systems is valuable information that is being lost. Competing priorities at the facility impact design and operations. The reasons for these decisions are not always readily available. When new personnel are tasked with the fire protection, not all of the previous knowledge can be passed down. Fire protection reviews are mandated by the regulations / standards. These reviews rely on the site documentation and the knowledge of the current staff. Maintaining a database deviations, recommendations, resolutions, alternative compliance and analysis results is critical.

[en] The paper describes the International Safety Rating System (ISRS) and its application and suitability to auditing an organization's radiation protection arrangements. Particularly pertinent elements in the audit system are identified and briefly described. The benefits derived from the practical application of the audit are identified. (author)

[en] First results of GIZ support on the development of Low-Emission Development Strategy (LED) in Costa Rica are promising and have motivated key ministries to integrate the climate policy into their structures. Awareness of the issue of climate change among the general public is increasing, the competencies of the National Secretariat for Climate Protection have been strengthened: its capability for strategic planning has been improved. The most important challenges still remain, like the manifold “LEDS” documents on national level, weak connection of existing development strategies, weak integration across ministries, the limited financial capacities or the fragmented international support.

[en] The Multinational Design Evaluation Programme (MDEP) was launched in 2006 by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) with the aim of developing innovative approaches to leverage the resources and knowledge of national regulatory authorities reviewing new reactor designs. MDEP full members are regulators from Canada, People's Republic of China, Finland, France, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The United Arab Emirates and Turkey are associate members. The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) acts as the Technical Secretariat for the MDEP. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) participates in many of the MDEP activities, including harmonisation efforts. The Vendor Inspection Cooperation Working Group (VICWG) is one of the issue-specific working groups that the MDEP members are undertaking with one long term goal of the VICWG being to maximize the use of the results obtained from other regulator's efforts in inspecting vendors. To accomplish this goal, it is vital that the regulators learn about each other's procedures, processes, and regulations. To facilitate the learning process the VICWG is coordinating vendor inspections among the involved regulatory authorities with the purpose of enhancing the understanding of each other's vendor inspection procedures. This programme is administered by the NEA. Involvement in specific inspections provides a number of opportunities for member state regulators to witness other regulators' inspection methods, gain useful information on the quality systems and manufacturing arrangements of specific vendors and where appropriate, actively participate in the inspection. The purpose of this protocol is to provide guidance to regulators that wish to carry out vendor inspections or participate in or witness other regulators' vendor inspections. It also provides guidance for the sponsoring regulator with regard to its interactions with inspecting, witnessing or participating regulators. These arrangements provide regulators with guidance on how to witness or participate in vendor inspections that have been arranged by the sponsoring regulator