PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON MINERALS AND ENERGY
REPORT
ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL NUCLEAR REGULATOR (NNR) FOR 2005
MR M MAGUGUMELA
25 MAY 2005
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
- Calibration Facility
- Medical Surveillance
- Developments in Regulatory Arena
Necsa Calibration Facility
Development of Events
- NNR was informed by DEAT of Earthlife's Africa allegation and that there to be a press conference at the facility on 26fh April 2005.
- NNR inspectors were sent to establish the facts
- Media reports started coming out on the afternoon of 26 April
- NNR instituted a formal investigation
- NNR issued an directive to Necsa
- The CEO and members of Executive visited the site on Wednesday, 27 April
NECSA CALIBRATION FACILITY
- The site is a calibration facility consisting of concrete pads containing natural occurring radiactve materials
- No loose radioactive contamination, capable of being dispersed to the environment could be detected.
- The radiation levels outside the perimeter fence did not pose a radiation risk to members of the public.
- The perimeter fence was inadequate in certain areas
- The following directive was issued to Necsa
- The security fence around the facility should be erected to standards acceptable to the NNR within 3 days
- Necsa to implement adequate security control measures for ingress and egress until such time as the fence is erected.
- Necsa to ensure that signposting at the site is in languages that are predominantly used in the area.
- Necsa was required to apply for an appropriate nuclear authorization for the purposes of decommissioning the facility as contemplated in the NNR Act.
Regulatory Conclusion
There was no safety concern to public
There was no need for public panic
While NNR welcome inputs from public, this issue has highlighted the need for public-regulator channels of interaction eg (PAIA,Whisle blower)
Challenges:
- Legislative updates to allow for proactive regulation such that
- Current regulatory oversight covers all high risk facilities
- Lower end of the spectrum now need to be brought into the regulatory net
- Empowerment of public on nuclear/radiation safety issues
- Utilise public safety information forums, civil society forums, radiation workers forums,
- Capacity related issues to ensure sustainability in the future
- Availability of TSOs in the long term is threatened by international surge in nuclear interest
Medical Surveillance on Necsa
- In accordance with the licence requirements of NL-27 and NL-28, applicable to Pelindaba and Vaalputs respectively, a medical surveillance and control program has been implemented since 1997.
- Current NNR Requirements:
- Protocols regarding medical surveillance
- Categorisation of workers
- Surveillance requirements
- Management of person excessively exposed to radiation
- Record keeping (30 years)
- Compliance Assurance Regime
- Receive quarterly reports in terms of doses
- Occurrence reports in event of excessive exposure
- NECSA is required to institute a radiological surveillance program
- Reference levels for monitoring radiation workers.
- The NNR had initiated a process to strengthen the license requirements related to medical surveillance for all regulated installations and actions.
New Licence Condition
- A comprehensive medical surveillance programme and health register must be established and maintained in a form approved by the NNR. All entries in the health register must be made by an appointed medical practitioner or a person so authorized. The licensee must retain the register for a period of fifty years from the date of last entry.
- An employee must have right of access to his medical records and health register at all times.
- After consent has been obtained from the employee, the licensee must provide the NNR with access to the employee's medical records and health register. The NNR may, with the consent of the employee, appoint an independent medical practitioner to assist in the conduct of a review of said records.
Current NNR Actions
- Necsa has been directed to
- Review the adequacy of the current medical surveillance programme and associated record-keeping system and
- Submit a report, to the NNR, on the identified remedial actions to be undertaken, by Necsa.
Medical Surveillance on Necsa
- In addition to the above the NNR will
- undertake an independent review of Necsa practices related to medical surveillance and benchmark this against international best practice.
- Compile a report on recommendations for the way forward
- It is anticipated that this will be completed by October 2005.
Developments in regulatory arena
- Safety standards (at international level)- continued involvement in international developments and benchmarking for best practices eg IAEA safety standards committees
- Gen TV initiatives
- Initiated legislative updates to strengthen the regulatory oversight
- Physical security (in line with international developments NNR is strengthening its regulatory oversight- cooperation with SAPS who is responsible for National Key Points