Welcome to Nuclear Installation Safety

Previous activities

International Conference on Research Reactors: Safe Management and Effective Utilization, 5 - 9 November 2007, Sydney, Australia

The IAEA has promoted and fostered exchange of scientific and technical information on research reactors for many years. An important mechanism for this exchange has been the periodic meetings, seminars, symposia and conferences organized by the IAEA, including the International Conference on Research Reactor Utilization, Safety, Decommissioning, Fuel and Waste Management, held in Santiago, Chile, in November 2003.

A number of significant issues, primarily related to safety and security, operation and utilization, the fuel cycle, decommissioning and waste management, are being faced by the research reactor community. In view of the continuing interest in these topics and in a wide range of additional issues, it is timely to convene another conference in the series of international conferences to discuss the issues, report progress and plans, exchange information and foster cooperation among the worldwide research reactor community. This exchange of information is expected to include projects on design, construction and commissioning of new research reactor facilities.

The objective of this conference is to foster exchange of information on current research reactors and to provide a forum for reactor operators, designers, managers, users and regulators to share experience, exchange opinions and discuss options and priorities.

Conference details For further information please contact Hassan Abou Yehia.

Second International Symposium on Nuclear Power Plant Life Management, 15-18 October 2007, Shanghai, China

The median age of nuclear power plants (NPPs) connected to the grid worldwide is increasing. Out of a total of 442 power reactors operating in the world, approximately 90 have been in operation for more than 30 years and two-thirds for 20 to 30 years, while a rather limited number of new plants are being put into operation. In view of this trend, IAEA Member States give high priority to continuing the operation of NPPs beyond the time frame originally anticipated (e.g. 30 or 40 years) as an alternative to decommissioning. Long term operation (LTO) is defined as nuclear power plant operation beyond an established time frame originally set forth by the licence term, design limits, standards or regulations. Maintaining nuclear power plant safety during long term operation is a very important issue for the IAEA and its Member States.

The Second International Symposium on Nuclear Power Plant Life Management was jointly organized by the Department of Nuclear Energy and the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security of the IAEA, to emphasize the role of plant life management (PLiM) programmes in assuring safe and reliable nuclear power plant operation.

Conference details For further information please contact Antonio Godoy.

International Conference on Knowledge Management in Nuclear Facilities, 18 - 21 June 2007, Vienna, Austria

The objectives of the conference were:

Conference details For further information please contact Christer Viktorsson.

International Conference on the Challenges faced by Technical and Scientific Support Organizations in Enhancing Nuclear Safety, 23 - 27 April 2007, Aix-en-Provence, France

The objective of this conference was to develop a common understanding of the TSO’s responsibilities, needs, and opportunities, as well as explore appropriate approaches and means to face current and expected challenges in nuclear and radiation safety. In this context, the objective of the conference was to:

Conference details For further information please contact George Philip.

International Conference On Effective Nuclear Regulatory Systems, 28 February - 2 March 2006, Moscow, Russia

The objective of this senior regulators’ conference is to develop a common understanding and appropriate approaches and means to face current challenges in nuclear and radiation safety and nuclear security. The conference will propose recommendations concerning:

Conference details For further information please contact George Philip.

International Conference on Operational Safety Performance in Nuclear Installations, 30 November - 2 December 2005, Vienna, Austria

The objective of the conference is to foster the exchange of information on operational safety performance and operating experience in nuclear installations, with the aim of consolidating an international consensus on:

Conference details For further information please contact Miroslav Lipar.

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International Conference on Topical Issues in Nuclear Installation Safety: Continuous Improvement of Nuclear Safety in a Changing World, 18 - 22 October 2004, Beijing, China

The objective of the conference was to foster the exchange of information on topical issues in nuclear safety. The conference developed an international consensus on the basic approaches for dealing with these issues, and proposed recommendations concerning:

The Topical Issues Conference is held every three years. It includes a review of present status of the above issues. Conference details For further information please contact Miroslav Lipar.

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International Conference on Research Reactor Utilization, Safety, Decommissioning, Fuel and Waste Management, 10-14 November 2003, Santiago, Chile

There are a number of significant issues being faced by the research reactor community, in particular those related to safety (operational and regulatory), utilization, decommissioning, fuel cycle and waste management. The continuing interest in these topics and in a wide range of additional issues indicates the need to convene an International Conference with a broad range of research reactor topics for exchanging experience and views, for discussing priorities for future work and for discussing co-operation.
The objective of this conference is to foster the exchange of information on current research reactor concerns related to safety, operation, utilization, decommissioning, fuel cycle and waste management by providing a forum for reactor operators, designers, managers, users and regulators to share experience, exchange opinions and discuss options and priorities. Conference details For further information please contact Antonio Godoy.

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International Symposium on Seismic Evaluation of Existing Nuclear Facilities, 25-29 August 2003, Vienna, Austria

In the past decade, seismic evaluation of existing nuclear power plants (NPPs) has been an issue in western countries, particularly for older NPPs in the east of North America and in Europe, as well as in eastern European countries where systematic reviews of NPPs were carried out. At present, additional interest results on the one hand from projects on plant life extension, and on the other from seismic evaluation of other nuclear facilities such as laboratories, research reactors and fuel cycle facilities, that are frequently of older design and earlier construction than NPPs. The objective of the Symposium was to foster the exchange of information on relevant topical issues with the aim of i)consolidating international consensus on the present status of these issues, ii) promoting a common engineering approach to their resolution or improvement, and iii) identifying the needs for strengthening international co-operation.112 participants from 35 countries attended the Symposium with 17 papers presented orally as well as 35 posters. The format of the Symposium, which offered long periods of time for discussions, was highly appreciated by the participants. Symposium details

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International Conference on Safety Culture in Nuclear Installations, December 2002, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Conference was organized by the IAEA in co-operation with Electrobras Termonuclear S.A. and Industrias Nucleares do Brasil. Over 400 representatives from approximately 40 countries attended. There was general agreement that poor safety culture underlies almost all major events. It was also recognized that the external pressures on operating organizations today are rising and such pressures have a history of impacting on safety in dramatic ways despite formalistic control programs.

During the week many interesting papers were presented both from experts in the field and from people who have "gone out and tried it". Among the key issues identified by the Conference were the development and use of models and indicators of safety culture; development of actions to enhance safety culture; the role of the regulator; and the interlinking of the safety culture of an organization with its business strategies and constraints. Conference details For further information please contact Christer Viktorsson.

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International Conference on Topical Issues in Nuclear Safety, 3-6 Sep 2001, Vienna, Austria

In 1991, the IAEA organized an international conference on ’The Safety of Nuclear Power: Strategy for the Future’. Recommendations from the 1991 conference prompted actions in subsequent years to advance nuclear safety worldwide. One of those actions was the establishment of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, which entered into force in October 1996. In 1998, the Agency held an ’International Conference on Topical Issues in Nuclear, Radiation and Radioactive Waste Safety’. The nuclear safety issues discussed during the conference were: (1) safety management; (2) regulatory strategies; and (3) backfitting, upgrading and modernization of nuclear power plants. Substantial progress has been made, and continues to be made by Member States in enhancing the safety of nuclear power plants. At the same time, more attention is being given to other areas of nuclear safety. Conference details. The objective of the conference is to foster the exchange of information on topical issues in nuclear installations safety, with the aim of consolidating an international consensus on:


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