European TSO Network
ETSON is the network of European technical safety organisations (TSO) with members from Germany (GRS), France (IRSN) Belgium (Bel V), Lithuania (LEI), Finland (VTT), the Czech Republic (UJV) Slovakia (VUJE) and associated members from Japan (JNES) and Ukraine (SSTC). A country's TSO supports the national licensing and supervisory authorities in all scientific and technical issues relating to nuclear safety and security.
The aim of ETSON is on the one hand to establish a forum for voluntary exchanges about the assessment, research and development in the field of nuclear safety and security. On the other hand, ETSON would like to make a contribution to the promotion of a harmonization of nuclear safety practices and initiate and carry out joint nuclear safety research programmes. The members of ETSON commit themselves, to respect principles and values that guarantee their independence of judgment in their technical work and the quality of their services.
In pursuance of these goals, ETSON published the Position Paper: Research needs in nuclear safety for GEN 2 and GEN 3 NPPs and will soon release the revised ETSON Safety Assessment Guide.
Further information on the European TSO Network is available in the following documents:
Safety Assessment Guide
The purpose of the Safety Assessment Guide is to provide recommendations/guidance to TSO (Technical Safety Organizations) experts for the process of reviewing and/or assessing the safety of nuclear facilities. It therefore assists the analysts with respect to the general objectives and the basis of safety assessment. Furthermore, it obtains descriptions of the typical recommendations for the analysis/review of nuclear safety cases and useful information on the assessment procedure itself.
International Conferences
In 2007, the first International Conference on Challenges Faced by Technical and Scientific Support Organizations in Enhancing Nuclear Safety was held in Aix-en-Provence, France. An objective of that conference was to provide technical and scientific support organizations (TSOs) from different countries, and international organizations and experts, with an opportunity to discuss relevant issues and develop a common understanding of the responsibilities, needs and opportunities of TSOs. At the Aix-en-Provence conference, senior regulators, heads of TSOs and other stakeholders concluded that a platform for networking between TSOs for the enhancement of nuclear safety and security was needed.
To realize this vision, the second International Conference on Challenges Faced by Technical and Scientific Support Organizations in Enhancing Nuclear Safety and Security was held in Tokyo in October 2010. This conference focused on international cooperation and networking among TSOs to enhance nuclear safety and security, especially in terms of their role in the regulatory framework, including capacity building in those countries considering embarking on nuclear power programmes.
More details on objectives, results and the recommendations of this conference can be found in the report of the Conference by President J. Repussard.
Based on the recommendations from both conferences the IAEA in cooperation with the Member States is presently preparing a Safety Guide entitled “External Expert Support for the Regulatory Body” (reference to draft: DS-429). This Safety Guide is primarily written to provide regulatory bodies but also designers, licensees, manufacturers, constructors and others with the necessary technical and scientific expertise in fulfilling their legal, professional or functional responsibilities for nuclear safety.