Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-10-07-Speech-4-092"
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"en.19991007.6.4-092"2
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"The Commission shares the concern of the European Parliament and others about the accident at the uranium processing plant in Japan. That an accident such as this could happen in a technologically developed country such as Japan once again makes it very clear that nuclear safety requires great and constant vigilance everywhere.
Another major concern is that in a facility handling such hazardous materials the operators were able to interfere with or bypass the procedures designed to avoid such accidents. This, in particular, highlights the question of the overall safety culture of the plant and the level of training of the personnel as well as the importance of rapid dissemination of information.
The Commission has already asked the Japanese authorities for detailed information on the accident and its causes. The authorities have launched an enquiry. This will undoubtedly address the issues of regulation, safety procedures, supervision and worker training. The Commission will most carefully examine the report of this enquiry for lessons to be learnt in Europe. In the light of these, it will in due course review its emergency procedures.
Poor safety management in combination with inadequate training or poorly qualified personnel appears to have been a very important factor in this as in many accidents. In the European Union, Member States’ national authorities must require undertakings to inform exposed workers and apprentices of the health risks involved in their work and train them in radiation protection.
The Commission will enquire of Member States what their latest provisions are for radiation protection and training of workers. The Commission will also undertake a review of the present levels of training in nuclear safety for operators and other workers in the different types of nuclear facilities in the European Union.
Research on safety culture in the nuclear sector is already included in the research and training part of the Community’s Fifth Framework Programme. Research on nuclear reactor safety is also included in the programme, though at a lower level of funding than previously. The Commission will respond positively to any request for assistance from the Japanese authorities in managing or exploring the consequences of the accident. The Commission services will remain in close contact with the International Atomic Energy Agency to exchange information and analysis and, if necessary, provide support for follow-up activities.
The issues raised in the motions concerning the manufacture, transport and use of mixed oxide – the MOX fuel – are unrelated to the accident at the Tokaimura plant. The questions relating to inspection of the fuel at the Sellafield MOX plant are within the competence of the national authorities and have been reported to the UK nuclear installations inspectorate. There was no question of any of the material being removed from safeguards control. Transport of MOX fuel is performed under the control of national authorities in the countries of origin and destination, taking into account the appropriate Community legislation and IAEA standards. As the MOX fuel shipped to Japan is ready for use in the nuclear power reactors without any further processing, it will not pass through the Tokaimura facility. Concerning the use of MOX fuel in nuclear power plants, this is a decision made by the individual electrical utility after licensing by their national safety authorities."@en1
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