26 Jun (NucNet): The World Association of Nuclear Operators has called on its members to build on the progress they have made on safety since the March 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi accident in Japan by further developing the leadership skills of key staff.
In 2011, WANO identified 12 key post-Fukushima projects to implement in more than 460 commercial power plants worldwide to improve safety. Many recommended improvements were complex and challenging, and required a significant investment of time and resources to roll out and complete, WANO said.
WANO and its members delivered projects focused on the following 12 areas; emergency preparedness, emergency support plan, severe accident management, early event notification, onsite fuel storage, design safety fundamentals, peer review frequency and equivalency, corporate peer reviews, WANO assessment, transparency and visibility and WANO internal assessment.
The association’s chief executive officer Peter Prozesky said the lessons learned from Fukushima have resulted in WANO’s members collectively implementing approximately 6,000 safety enhancement activities worldwide.
A key area in which WANO is working with its members is to develop leadership at the mid- to senior management level. These managers at nuclear power plants play a vital part in delivering excellence and a strong nuclear safety culture, due to their positional influence throughout the organisation.
Mr Prozesky said: “Although major advances have been made to nuclear safety and plant performance since Fukushima, the industry must continue to evolve and improve. WANO will work closely with our members to maximise the safety and reliability of nuclear power plants worldwide.”
WANO is a not-for-profit organisation established by nuclear power operators to exchange safety knowledge and operating experience amongst organisations operating commercial nuclear power reactors. WANO’s members operate some 460 nuclear units in over 30 countries and areas worldwide.
