OREANDA-NEWS. July 6, 2007. For four days the conferees made and heard reports, visited Angarsk Electrolytic Chemical Combine and went sightseeing around Angarsk and Irkutsk.

It was the 26th such forum: attending it were representatives of the Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Fuel Cycle Department, the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department, the Federal Medical-Biological Agency, Rostekhnadzor, TVEL, the Siberian Territorial Department for Nuclear Control, research and development institutes.

The three major topics were ecology, radiation safety and labor protection. The conferees discussed the results of the relevant programs carried out last year. The ecological programs were aimed mostly at improving control methods, modernizing purification systems and reducing emissions.

AECC carried out all necessary measures to bring its ecological management into conformity with ISO 14001:2004. One of the most serious projects was the experimental launch of a fish protection system and special aerators on Angara River. The project cost 6mln RUR.

In 2006 AECC spent 180mln RUR on ecology. This year it is planning to spend 186mln RUR on new and ongoing constructions, environment monitoring, waste and wastewater treatment.

The key tasks in labor protection are to minimize negative impacts on the health of the personnel and to prevent accidents on site due to enhanced safety measures.

In the last decade the accident rate at the companies of the Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Fuel Cycle Department has dropped from 1.09 to 0.42. This is just 1/6 of the average accident rate in Russia.

During the same period the injury rate has dropped from 2 to 0.84 with the average rate in Russia dropping from 5.2 to 3.

In 2006 the average yearly effective radiation dose at the companies of the Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Fuel Cycle Department made up 2.2 mSv, which is 2.7% less than in 2005.

The comparative analysis shows that in 2006 the radiation situation at the companies was stable.

Occupational morbidity rate is low: only some pensioners – former employees of Mayak and some other dangerous Soviet-time facilities have developed occupational diseases, but this has nothing to do with the radiation background of the last years. 

The number of radiation control stations was increased, which helps to quickly detect and timely liquidate any source of radiation. The personnel are equipped with individual protection systems.

This year the Department will continue to certify workplaces and is going to introduce systems of safety culture and certificates of confidence with a view to stimulate labor protection.

3.714bln RUR was spent on labor protection in 2006 which is 400mln more than in 2005.

An exhibition of modern individual protection means displayed special clothing that is easily decontaminated and effectively protects human body from radiation.

Surveys and observations show that natural radiation sources produce more radiation than nuclear power facilities do.