NEA Mandates and Structures


Expert Group on Operational Safety (EGOS)

Chair(s): Wilhelm BOLLINGERFEHR, Germany
Secretary:  Gloria KWONG
(gloria.kwong@oecd-nea.org)
Vice-Chair(s): Sylvie VOINIS, France
Member(s):All NEA member countries*
Russia (Suspended*)
*Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council.
Full participant(s): European Commission
Under the NEA Statute
Observer(s)(International Organisation): International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
By agreement
Date of creation:01 June 2013
End of mandate:31 December 2019

Mandate (Document reference):

  • Expert Group on Operational Safety Mandate (EGOS) [NEA/RWM/IGSC(2017)8/FINAL]
  • Extension approved at the 19th meeting of the Integration Group for the Safety Case (IGSC) [NEA/RWM/IGSC(2017)6/PROV]
  • Expert Group on Operational Safety Mandate (EGOS) [NEA/RWM/IGSC(2013)1]
  • Approved at the 46th Session of the Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) [NEA/RWM/M(2013)1
  • Extension of the EGOS mandate [NEA/RWM/IGSC(2014)5/PROV]
  • Extension of the mandate at the 3rd meeting of the Expert Group on Operational Safety Mandate (EGOS) [NEA/RWM/IGSC(2015)8/PROV]
  • Mandate approved at the 17th meeting of the Integration Group for the Safety Case (IGSC) [NEA/RWM/IGSC(2015)9/PROV]
  • Mandate of the Expert Group on Operational Safety (EGOS) From 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019 [NEA/RWM/IGSC(2017)8/FINAL]

Mandate (Document extract):

Extract from document NEA/RWM/IGSC(2017)8/FINAL

The overall operational safety objectives in deep geological repositories (DGRs) for radioactive waste are similar to those in operating other nuclear facilities.

[…] 

The applicability and transferability of classical nuclear safety and mining safety regulations to DGRs must be examined. Conflicting regulatory requirements must be identified and addressed.

[…]

The mandate of the EGOS is to identify, evaluate and help define international best practices in safe operation of DGRs. The scope of issues covers the pre-closure phase of DGRs, but the connection between operational safety and long-term safety should also be addressed. In particular, the EGOS will:

  • Share technical, regulatory, and stakeholder-related experience in operational safety and share know-how on the practical assessment of hazards, technical solutions for risk prevention and mitigation;

  • Identify potential hazards in DGRs, utilising experience gained from the operation of mines (both uranium and non-nuclear), nuclear facilities and relevant engineering projects from outside the nuclear industry;

  • Identify potential interactions between operational safety and long-term safety and share views on how to deal with this issue;

  • Enable the IGSC to foster in-depth exchanges with other international organisations and/or projects in the field of operational safety.