Safety and control areas
The CNSC evaluates how well licensees meet regulatory requirements and CNSC expectations for the performance of programs in 14 safety and control areas (SCAs) that are grouped according to their functional areas:
Management
Management system
The management system SCA covers the framework that establishes the processes and programs required to ensure an organization achieves its safety objectives, continuously monitors its performance against these objectives, and fosters a healthy safety culture. The specific areas covered include:
- Management system
- Organization
- Performance Assessment, Improvement and Management Review
- Operating Experience (OPEX), Problem Identification and Resolution (PI&R)
- Change Management
- Safety Culture
- Configuration Management
- Records Management
- Supply and Contractor Management
- Business Continuity
Human performance management
Control room operator at the Bruce Power Nuclear Generating station Kincardine, Ontario
The human performance management SCA covers activities that enable effective human performance through the development and implementation of processes that ensure a sufficient number of licensee personnel are in all relevant job areas and have the necessary knowledge, skills, procedures and tools in place to safely carry out their duties. Topics reviewed include:
- Human Performance Program
- Personnel Training
- Personnel Certification
- Work Organization and Job Design
- Fitness for Duty
Operating performance
The operating performance SCA includes an overall review of the conduct of the licensed activities and the activities that enable effective performance. Specific areas assessed by CNSC staff comprise:
- Conduct of Licensed Activity
- Procedures
- Reporting and Trending
- Outage Management Performance
- Safe Operating Envelope
- Severe Accident Management and Recovery
- Accident Management and Recovery
Facility and Equipment
Safety analysis
CNSC's Andrei Blahoianu, Director of the Engineering Design Assessment Division, presents at a 2010 international workshop on soil structure interaction knowledge and effect on the seismic assessment of nuclear power plant structures and components, Ottawa, Ontario
The safety analysis SCA includes maintenance of the safety analysis that supports the overall safety case for the facility. Safety analysis is a systematic evaluation of the potential hazards associated with the conduct of a proposed activity or facility and considers the effectiveness of preventive measures and strategies in reducing the effects of such hazards. Specific areas covered include:
- Deterministic Safety Analysis
- Hazard Analysis
- Probabilistic Safety Analysis
- Criticality Safety
- Severe Accident Analysis
- Management of Safety Issues (including R&D Programs)
Physical design
The physical design SCA relates to activities that affect the ability of structures, systems and components (SSCs) to meet and maintain their design basis, given new information arising over time and taking changes in the external environment into account.
The annual assessment of physical design examines:
- Design governance
- Site characterization
- Facility design
- Structure design
- System design
- Component design
Fitness for service
CNSC site staff inspect the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station's vacuum building. Other multi-unit stations in Canada are also equipped withsuch buildings. At Darlington, the building is connected to all four reactors and provides additional protection to preserve the integrity of the containment in the unlikely event of an accident. Bowmanville, Ontario
The fitness for service SCA covers activities that affect the physical condition of structures, systems and components (SSCs) to ensure that they remain effective over time. This includes programs that ensure all equipment is available to perform its intended design function when called upon to do so. This SCA comprises:
- Equipment Fitness for Service/Equipment Performance
- Maintenance
- Structural Integrity
- Aging Management
- Chemistry Control
- Periodic Inspection and Testing
Core Controls and Processes
Radiation protection
The radiation protection SCA covers the implementation of a radiation protection program in accordance with the Radiation Protection Regulations. The program must ensure that contamination levels and radiation doses received by individuals are monitored, controlled and maintained ALARA. The evaluation includes:
- Application of ALARA
- Worker dose control
- Radiation protection program performance
- Radiological hazard control
Conventional health and safety
Workers dressed in protective equipment to enter a potentially contaminated area
The conventional health and safety SCA covers the implementation of a program to manage workplace safety hazards and to protect workers. CNSC staff examine the following specific areas:
- Performance
- Practices
- Awareness
Environmental protection
The environmental protection SCA covers programs that identify, control and monitor all releases of radioactive and hazardous substances and effects on the environment from facilities or as the result of licensed activities. This SCA looks at:
- Effluent and Emissions Control (releases)
- Environmental Management System (EMS)
- Assessment and Monitoring
- Protection of People
- Environmental Risk Assessment
Installed in the spring every year, nets near water intakes at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station considerably reduce the impact of the plant's activities on surrounding aquatic life. Pickering, Ontario Photo credit: The Ajax Pickering News Advertiser)
Emergency management and fire protection
The emergency management and fire protection SCA covers emergency plans and emergency preparedness programs that exist for emergencies and for non-routine conditions. This also includes any results of exercise participation. Emergency management and fire protection includes:
- Conventional Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Fire Emergency Preparedness and Response
Waste management
The waste management SCA covers internal waste-related programs that form part of the facility's operations up to the point where the waste is removed from the facility to a separate waste management facility. This also covers the planning for decommissioning. Topics covered in depth consist of:
- Waste Characterization
- Waste Minimization
- Waste Management Practices
- Decommissioning Plans
A dry storage container for spent fuel is being moved at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. The CNSC regulates both the management of nuclear waste and the transportation of nuclear substances. Bowmanville, Ontario
Security
The security SCA covers the programs required to implement and support the security requirements stipulated in the regulations, in their licence, in orders, or in expectations for their facility or activity.
- Facilities and Equipment
- Response Arrangements
- Security Practices
- Drills and Exercises
- Cyber Security
Safeguards and Non-Proliferation
The safeguards SCA covers the programs and activities required for the successful implementation of the obligations arising from the Canada/IAEA safeguards agreements as well as all other measures arising from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
- Nuclear Material Accountancy and Control
- Access and Assistance to the IAEA
- Operational and Design Information
- Safeguards Equipment, Containment and Surveillance
- Import and Export
Packaging and transport
The packaging and transport SCA include programs that cover the safe packaging and transport of nuclear substances to and from the licensed facility.
- Package Design and Maintenance
- Packaging and Transport
- Registration for Use
Bruce Power emergency services team pose for the camera. The CNSC requires nuclear power plant operators to have both a fire response team and a tactical team, in order to respond to different incidents that may occur on site. Kincardine, Ontario