No shift changes in Chernobyl ! Ukraine informed the authority today that it was becoming increasingly urgent to replace the 210 employees for the safe management of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. They have been working there continuously since the Russian armed forces took control ( HERE ) almost two weeks ago. In contrast to the operating Ukrainian nuclear power plants, where personnel are regularly replaced, the same shift of employees has been on duty at the Chernobyl NPP since the day the Russian military invaded on February 24, the Vienna supervisory authority said.
The Ukrainian authorities also reported that the staff had access to food and water and, to a limited extent, medication. However, the situation for the staff worsened.
She asked the IAEA to help develop a workable plan for the replacement of current staff and to work towards an effectively functioning shift system.
Seven pillars of nuclear safety
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has repeatedly stressed that it is essential for personnel at nuclear facilities to be able to rest and work regular shifts, as this is crucial to overall nuclear safety. One of the seven essential pillars of nuclear safety (HERE) is the ability of operational personnel to make decisions free from undue pressure. Grossi outlined these basic requirements at a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors on March 2, where the implications of the situation in Ukraine for safety, security and safeguards were discussed.
“I am deeply concerned about the difficult and stressful situation in which Chernobyl nuclear power plant employees find themselves and the potential risks this poses to nuclear safety. I call on the forces effectively controlling the site to urgently facilitate the safe rotation of personnel there.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi (translated with “ImTranslator”)
Communication with Chernobyl limited
Also worrying is the Director General's statement that the connection for remote data transmission of monitoring systems installed at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant had failed. This means that there is currently no way to determine whether radioactivity is escaping. The agency is investigating the status of security monitoring systems at other sites in Ukraine and will provide further information shortly. Furthermore, communication between the Ukrainian authorities and their local staff is currently only possible via email.
Normally the measured values are automatically transmitted to the Internet and can be viewed publicly by everyone ( HERE ). However, at the moment it is not forwarding to the measured values.
No active nuclear power plant
The handling of nuclear material at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant has been suspended for the time being, the regulator added in its statement. The site, which is located in an exclusion zone, includes decommissioned reactors and radioactive waste facilities.
Regarding the status of Ukraine's operating nuclear power plants, the regulator said that eight of the country's 15 reactors were operating, including two at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which has been under the control of Russian forces since last week, and that personnel at the plants are in Work shifts. The radiation levels at the locations were normal, it was said.
Conclusion
There is a need for action in Chernobyl. The personnel, since the takeover by the Russian army on February 24th. in continuous use, urgently needs to be replaced and functioning shift operation introduced. Communication to the location is restricted. The monitoring systems can no longer be accessed from outside. The IAEA can also only communicate with Chernobyl via email ( HERE ).
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