OSART

WHAT IS AN OSART?

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of the OSART programme is to assist Member States in enhancing the operational safety of specific nuclear power plants and to promote the continuous development of operational safety within all Member States by the dissemination of information on good practices.

In support of this purpose, the key objectives of the OSART programme are:

to provide the host countries (plant and utility management, the regulatory authority and other governmental authorities)with an objective assessment of operational safety at the host plants with respect to proven international performance and practices.
to provide the host plants with written recommendations in areas where performance should be improved to meet proven international performance and practices.
to provide the host plants with written suggestions where performance could be enhanced by use of proven good programmes and practices.
to provide key staff at the host plants with informal assistance or advice on ways improvements might be achieved.
to identify good practices at the host plants which are unique and worthy of bringing to the attention of others.
to provide all Member States with information regarding good practices identified in the course of the review.
to provide experts and observers from Member States and the IAEA staff with opportunities to broaden their experience and knowledge of their own field.
to give experts and observers the opportunity to learn review methodology that will enhance their management skills.

OSART missions are peer reviews conducted by international teams of experts who have current knowledge of the area which they are reviewing. OSART reviews are not an audit against set codes and standards, rather they are a technical exchange of experiences and practices at all levels. They are a joint search by team members and designated plant personnel (counterparts) to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement in a plant's programmes and performance. Judgements of performance are made based on the combined expertise of the teams. OSART teams do not attempt to assess a plant's adherence to regulatory requirements or a plant's overall safety. Neither do they attempt to compare or rank nuclear power plants' overall safety performance. Each mission starts with the expectation that the plant meets the safety requirements of the host country.