Background
Performance evaluation programmes consist of methodologies and tools used for assessing, testing, and exercising physical protection capacities to mitigate threats of theft or sabotage at nuclear facilities. Some nuclear organisations and regulators around the world have already established this type of programme and requirement. Many countries, however, have not.
WINS and the US DOE feel it is extremely important for all nuclear facilities and competent authorities to consider implementing this type of programme. Indeed, it is only through the measurement of performance that an operator can demonstrate their physical protection measures are effective and are fulfilling the operator’s obligations. The concept of performance evaluation programmes is mentionned in IAEA NSS-13 and further discussed in IAEA NSS 30-G, Section 3.3.2.
With that in mind, WINS and the US DOE collaborated and jointly organised an International Workshop on Good Practices for Implementing Performance Evaluation Programmes for Physical Protection Systems to discuss and share experiences and lessoned learned.
Objectives
The workshop reviewed international good practices for designing and implementing performance evaluation programmes for physical protection systems.
The key objectives of the event were:
- To share good practices in the area of performance evaluation processes, including performance testing, and to discuss:
- How to develop a graded approach to analysis and testing based on consequence of event
- Risk management approaches based on available resources and budget
- Selection and optimization of analysis and testing
- Data management and continuous improvement (data feedback into analysis)
- To foster awareness of current performance testing methods and approaches
- To share methods of programme sustainability and in particular explore the importance of resource management, training requirements and capacity and capabilities matters
- To foster international relationships for possible peer to peer cooperation and assistance
AGENDA
Session 1 - Establishing a Performance Evaluation Programme
Session 2 - Performance Evaluation Methods and Approaches
Session 3 - Graded Approach and Managing Risk
Session 4 - Analysis and Testing Selection and Optimisation
- An operator approach to performance testing (Patrice Pourre Brichot, Samuel Donikian and Thomas Schoonaert, French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, France) - Recorded
Session 5 - Data Management and Sharing
Session 6 - Performance Evaluation Programme Gaps and Challenges
Session 7 - Performance Evaluation Programme Sustainability
Session 8 - Next Steps
Audience
Participation was limited to 40 individuals.
Practitioners from the international community including regulatory authorities, competent authorities, operators, and vendors shared current experiences and good practices for implementing performance evaluation programmes and associated processes.
WINS promotes gender diversity in its events and female delegates were highly encouraged to apply to this workshop.
Process
Participants were encouraged to discuss the status of their respective performance evaluation programmes including analysis and testing methodologies for ensuring an effective physical protection system.
In line with WINS’ innovative approach to best practice workshops, this event was interactive and professionally facilitated. The workshop was built around a number of presentations from invited expert speakers to explore the topic and share their experience and lessons learned.
The workshop was conducted online through four 3-hour live sessions from 19-22 April 2021. The workshop was held in English. As with all WINS events, the discussions were unclassified but subject to Chatham House rules (what was said can be reported, but not attributed).
