3.2.2 Regulatory methods to verify operator's compliance
with license conditions

3.2.2.1 Inspections

The tasks in the field of state regulatory activities are fulfilled by ÚJD´s nuclear safety inspectors. In fulfilling their tasks in the field of state regulation, the nuclear safety inspectors follow ÚJD´s directive Inspection Activities. The Directive sets a uniform procedure for inspections, for the processing and evaluation of annual inspection plans, management of ÚJD´s inspection program, processing of documentation of inspection activities, and for analysis of ÚJD´s inspection activities.
The inspection plan is a tool for continuous and systemic evaluation of inspection activities at nuclear installations, as well as during transportation and controls of nuclear materials. As a rule, such plans are developed for the period of one year.

The plan comprises the following sections: (1) Operation and decommissioning of nuclear installations (NI), (2) Care of NI equipment, (3) Technical support to NI, (4) VÚJE, (5) Transports of nuclear materials, (6) Control of, and accounting for nuclear materials, and (7) Controls of other licence holders.

Inspections follow inspection procedures that are part of the ÚJD´s Inspection Manual. Individual inspection procedures are developed for inspection activities for which no inspection procedures have been developed.

Types of inspections

In general, planned and non-planned inspections are distinguished; this represents the first level of classification. The second level recognizes routine, special and team inspections for both planned and non-planned ones.

Planned inspections:

Routine inspections are intended to verify the provisions for the compliance with requirements and conditions of nuclear safety, condition of the NI, compliance with approved limits and conditions and with selected operating regulations. Routine inspections are performed mainly by resident inspectors at the corresponding NI. If it comes to inspections that, by their focus, go beyond the professional competence of the resident inspectors, inspections will be performed by nuclear safety inspectors from different Divisions of ÚJD. Routine inspections follow the procedures included in the Inspection Manual.

Special inspections are performed by nuclear safety inspectors in accordance with the basic inspection plan. Special inspections focus on specific areas, in particular on the verification of the compliance with requirements and conditions of regulations pursuant to § 32 of Act No. 130/1998 Coll.LL.

Special inspections as a rule follow procedures contained in Inspection Manual.

Team inspections focus on the compliance with requirements and conditions set by ÚJD pursuant to § 32 of Act No. 130/1998 Coll.LL., as a rule within several areas in parallel. Team inspections are planned for areas selected based on long-term assessment of operator´s results based on inspection activities and analyses. Team inspections mean inspections on which several departments participate.

Non-planned inspections:

Non-planned inspections are performed by nuclear safety inspectors as routine, special or team inspections. Such inspections are triggered by conditions prevailing at the NI (e.g. start-up stages) or by events at the NI. ÚJD uses them to respond to situations that have occurred at the NI.

Rules applicable to any type of inspections

Principally, inspections are announced in advance to the entity subject of supervision. However, they do not need be notified in advance if their focus and nature requires to do so.

Inspections of NI are notified in advance to the corresponding resident inspector. As a rule, resident inspectors participate in the inspections.

Any inspection performed by more than a single inspector has a head of inspection team appointed.

Inspection protocol.

Any inspection performed must be documented in the form of a protocol. Binding instructions concerning the remedial measures to be taken to eliminate shortcomings identified are recorded in the protocol. They have to be formulated clearly so as to impose the responsibility to eliminate shortcomings identified and to set clear and unambiguous deadlines for performance.

Analysis of inspection activities

Analysis of inspection activities comprises statistical evaluation of the findings. The objective of the statistical evaluation is to determine the distribution and the frequencies of inspection findings. Based on the evaluation of the developmental trends of inspection findings inspection plans for the period to come can be modified, to focus in particular on those areas where most shortcomings have been identified with respect to the entity subject to supervision .