Criticality safety and organizational principlesat the CEA
Abstract
The CEA is based in ten research centers in France, each specializing in specific fields. The laboratories are located in the Paris region, the Rhone-Alpes, the Rhone valley, the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region, Aquitaine, Central France and Burgundy.As an aftermath of the TOKAI MURA criticality accident the CEA implemented a strong organization based on two parallel lines the operational line and the control line.Each line is an independent one as has it's own organization. A three level organization for the operational line (including a central support) and a two level one for the control line. These lines are implemented at every CEA center where criticality safety issue are met and at every nuclear facility (NF) (in French Installation Nucleaire de Base - INB*) where fissile materials are present.In order to enforce this structure an appropriate training in accordance with the responsibilities of the position, is given to the appointees' in charge of the operations or the control. Some of these positions request a qualification agreement.On an operational basis everyday controls regarding criticality issues are conducted through a documentary structure which is present in every NF. This structure is in accordance with the variety / complexity of the operations conducted in each NF.Nuclear workers are given the adequate training on how to use these documents necessary to conduct the various processes going through the NF.Thus CEA has a strong criticality safety organization including national and local resources and supported by a complete set of documents.
Origin : Files produced by the author(s)