Training Workshop on the Development of Severe Accident ...

Training Workshop on the Development of

Severe Accident Management Guidelines

Using the IAEA’s SAMG-D Toolkit

Vienna, Austria
19–23 October 2015
Ref. No.: 622-I3-TR-50162

Information Sheet

A. Background

Nuclear power plants (NPPs) have been designed to withstand a large number of incidents and
accidents, so that possible radiological consequences will be low and within predefined limits. NPPs
have been equipped with a number of safety systems to control such incidents and accidents, together
with a set of emergency operating procedures (EOPs) which help the operators to achieve a final stable
and safe end state. In the unlikely case when the event cannot be controlled, fuel damage must be
expected and that will possibly be followed by containment damage and a large radioactive release.
For such accidents, called ‘severe accidents’, mitigatory actions are still possible, using available and
— in some cases — dedicated plant equipment. Severe accident management guidelines (SAMGs)
have been developed to provide operators with systematic guidance on the mitigatory actions to be
taken during such accidents.
Severe accidents in the past, notably the accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, have prompted
the development of these mitigatory actions. The main objective of SAMGs is to utilize any available
equipment at the NPP to terminate core damage, maintain containment integrity, and minimize off-site
radionuclide releases. The development of SAMGs in different countries has led to different formats
depending on the type of reactor, the industry that developed the guidance, and the various regulatory
requirements.

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In connection with the implementation of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety, the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has developed a training resource called the SAMG-D (“Severe
Accident Management Guideline Development”) toolkit. This toolkit provides a description of the
basic elements required for the development of SAMGs for NPPs. It consists of a condensed basic
text, plus a set of hyperlinks to more detailed explanations in the form of PDF files of IAEA
publications and other literature. The SAMG-D toolkit is designed to help NPP operators to develop
and select a proper set of SAMGs for their specific plant. The toolkit is designed for capacity building
in newcomer Member States and as a refresher tool for Member States with an established SAMGs
programme. This workshop will introduce participants to: the use of SAMG-D as a training tool; the
basics of nuclear safety, focusing on the main areas of interest when NPPs are threatened by a severe
accident; the severe accident phenomena and challenges associated with maintaining fission product
barriers, including a set of strategies to mitigate such challenges; the development of generic SAMGs
involving actions to mitigate the consequences of severe accidents, including verification and
validation; the implementation mechanisms and infrastructure required for SAMGs, including the
tasks and responsibilities required to implement and execute the SAMGs in NPPs; the interfaces with
the emergency response organization; and the organizational aspects of plant-specific validation of
SAMGs.

B. Objectives

The purpose of the workshop is: (a) to introduce the SAMG-D (“Severe Accident Management
Guideline Development”) toolkit to various users of severe accident management guidelines
(SAMGs): operators, operator support groups (e.g. the members of a nuclear power plant’s technical
support centre), members of the emergency response organization who are involved with SAMGs,
regulators, and other relevant staff; and (b) to raise awareness of the importance of establishing
reliable SAMGs programmes in Member States.

C. Expected Outputs

The expected outcomes of this workshop are to assist Member States in establishing their SAMGs
programmes, to enhance safety culture, and to increase the number of educated personnel in Member
States who are conversant with SAMGs.

D. Administrative and Financial Arrangements

Designating Governments will be informed in due course of the names of the selected candidates and
will at that time be given full details on the procedures to be followed with regard to administrative
and financial matters.

The costs of the workshop are borne by the IAEA; no registration fee is charged to participants. Travel
and subsistence expenses of participants will not be borne by the IAEA. Limited funds are, however,
available to help meet the cost of attendance of certain participants. Such assistance may be offered
upon specific request to normally one participant per country provided that, in the IAEA’s view, the
participant on whose behalf assistance is requested will make an important contribution to the
workshop. The application for financial support should be made at the time of designating the
participant.

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The organizers of the workshop do not accept liability for the payment of any cost or compensation
that may arise from damage to or loss of personal property, or from illness, injury, disability or death
of a participant while he/she is travelling to and from or attending the workshop, and it is clearly
understood that each Government, in designating participants, undertakes responsibility for such
coverage. Governments would be well advised to take out insurance against these risks.

E. Application Procedure

Designations should be submitted using the attached Participation Form (Form A). Completed forms
should be endorsed by the competent national authority (e.g. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent
Mission to the IAEA, or National Atomic Energy Authority) and returned through the established
official channels. They must be received by the IAEA not later than 14 August 2015. Designations
received after that date or applications sent directly by individuals or by private institutions cannot be
considered. Designating Governments will be informed in due course of the names of the selected
candidates and at that time full details will be given on the procedures to be followed with regard to
administrative and financial matters.
Applications for financial support should be made at the time of designating the participant.

F. Working Language

The working language of the workshop will be English with no interpretation provided. All
communications, abstracts and papers must be submitted in this language.

G. Venue

The workshop will commence on Monday, 19 October 2015, at 9.00 a.m. in Room MOE100,
M Building, at the Vienna International Centre (VIC). Workshop participants are requested to arrive at
Checkpoint 1/Gate 1 of the VIC one hour before the start of the workshop on the first day, in order to
allow sufficient time for the issuing of grounds passes, which are necessary for official visitors to the
VIC.

H. Visas

Participants who need a visa for entering Austria should submit the necessary application to the
nearest diplomatic or consular representative of Austria as early as possible.

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I. Organization

Official correspondence with regard to the technical aspects of the workshop should be addressed to
the Scientific Secretary:
Mr Ibrahim Khamis
Nuclear Power Technology Development Section
Division of Nuclear Power
Department of Nuclear Energy
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 100
1400 VIENNA
AUSTRIA
Tel.: +43 1 2600 22822
Fax: +43 1 26007
Email: [email protected]

Official correspondence with regard to administrative issues should be addressed to the Administrative
Secretary:
Ms Jenny Lim
Nuclear Power Technology Development Section
Division of Nuclear Power
Department of Nuclear Energy
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 100
1400 VIENNA
AUSTRIA
Tel.: +43 1 2600 22815
Fax: +43 1 26007
Email: [email protected]

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