Eighth Nuclear Regulatory Inspection Workshop

The main purpose of this workshop was to provide a forum for the exchange of information on regulatory inspection activities. Participants had the opportunity to meet with their counterparts from other countries and organisations to discuss current and future issues on selected topics. They developed conclusions regarding these issues and identify methods to help improve their own inspection programmes.

Workshop background

The Committee on Nuclear Regulatory Activities (CNRA) believes that safety inspections are a major element in a regulatory authority's efforts to ensure the safe operation of nuclear facilities. Considering the importance of these issues, the committee has established a special Working Group on Inspection Practices (WGIP). The purpose of the WGIP is to facilitate the exchange of information and experience related to regulatory safety inspections between CNRA member countries. This workshop, which is the 8th in a series, along with many other activities performed by WGIP, is directed towards this goal. The consensus from participants at previous workshops, noted that the value of meeting with people from other inspection organisations was the most important achievement.

The workshop addressed the following three main topics concerning inspection activities:

• how regulatory inspections can promote, or not promote, good safety culture;
• inspecting the interactions between the licensee and its contractors, and
• future challenges for inspectors (e.g., new techniques, developing competence, etc.).
  

Related links

Committee on Nuclear Regulatory Activities (CNRA)

Working Group on Inspection Practices