Risk informed decision making – Specific aspects for risk-informing decisions in a regulatory environment

Abstract of the technical paper presented at:
European Safety and Reliability (ESREL) 2010 Annual Conference
Rhodes, Greece
September 5-9, 2010

Prepared by:
Adrian Bujor, Raducu Gheorghe
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Risk Informed Decision Making (RIDM) process was developed to assist CNSC management in decisions related to licensing, compliance and resource allocation for power reactors regulation. It was designed to provide the managers at the moment of the decision, information on the risks associated with the decision and to recommend risk control measures.

The RIDM process and the tools and methods for risk estimation and evaluation were developed in-house considering the CNSC regulatory environment, international experience and practices, and Canadian experience and past practices. It has been extensively tested and used for various applications and it is subject to continuous improvements as result of feedback from applications.

The paper provides an overall view of the integrated risk-informed decision making process, with focus on the mode in which a generic risk management process is used in consistency with the mandate and specific regulatory framework. Specific detailed aspects are discussed in the areas of definition of the risk significance and of the guidance on risk control measures - regulatory oversight and scrutiny, and potential measures that the licensees may be requested to undertake to address the risks.

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