OSARTs are initiated by a request from a Member State to review performance at a specific nuclear power plant. Preparation for an OSART mission starts shortly after, with formal confirmation and establishment of contacts with liaison officers at the utility or nuclear power plant and regulatory authority. Arrangement of a preparatory meeting with the plant management and other organizations involved, and the recruitment of experts for the review team are then carried out. These activities are organized by the OSART liaison officer, who assists the team leader during the preparation for the mission and while it is in progress. The liaison officer also reviews a specific area as a member of the team.
A preparatory meeting is held at the plant site and is usually attended by the team leader and the OSART liaison officer. It takes place about one year prior to the start of the mission. Other organizations involved, such as regulatory authorities and emergency planning authorities are welcomed at this meeting. If desired, separate preparatory meetings may also be conducted with the regulatory authority. These meetings allow those responsible for ensuring that the review is carried out effectively to meet and reach a common understanding on the conduct of the OSART. The participants discuss the main features of the OSART programme, and the plant's preparations for the review. They also discuss the preparation of an advance information package for team members, logistical support, arrangements for reporting mission results and any intended involvement of the media. The meeting includes a tour of the plant for the IAEA staff members.
Team Composition
An OSART team usually consists of one experienced nuclear power plant expert for each area of the review except for operations, where there are usually two. Typically, two thirds of the team are senior managers from nuclear power plants outside the host country, the remaining one third are IAEA staff. The objective is that approximately 50% of the industry experts will have had previous experience either on OSARTs or on self evaluation teams. Occasionally, a member of a regulatory body from outside the host country is a team member, provided that he/she has the required experience. The team includes up to three observers from countries where the nuclear programme is in transition or in the course of significant development. The cumulative experience of the team in the nuclear industry often exceeds 200 years. Table 2 shows the origin of OSART industry experts and observers. (Click here to view photo).
Experts are recruited based on their technical skills in the area they will review, their investigative skills and their knowledge of the OSART working language (English). These experts change from one OSART mission to the next. The IAEA staff members also have experience in the nuclear industry and have demonstrated evaluation skills. Staff members have taken part in many evaluations and help provide consistency in the OSART process, as well as a knowledge of various national practices.
The team leader and assistant team leader of each OSART mission are senior IAEA staff members and are responsible for the overall conduct of the mission. This includes co-ordination and liaison with the host utility, the host plant and the regulatory authority. Additionally, they provide training and guidance to the teams, to help ensure coherent and consistent reviews.
Advance Information
To enable an OSART team to perform effectively and efficiently while on site, the nuclear power plant prepares an advance information package. This package is sent to the team members prior to the OSART, so they can familiarize themselves with the plant organization, administration, layout, performance and general design before they begin the review. This package usually includes a section dedicated to each review area including information on the plant counterparts. It also contains information on radiation protection, and general logistics such as hotel and transportation arrangements. Information needs are minimized to avoid undue translation casts for the plant.