Uzbekistan has approved a procedure for actions in case of a threat or occurrence of a radiation accident at a nuclear power plant. The corresponding instruction was approved by the Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety under the Cabinet of Ministers.
The document, adopted on July 29 and registered with the Ministry of Justice on August 19, establishes two on-site modes: "Emergency Preparedness" and "Emergency State." The first is introduced when there is a threat of a radiation accident, the second when it actually occurs and measures are needed to prevent the spread of consequences.
The basis for declaring a mode can be exceeding established radiation levels, violations of safe plant operation, as well as earthquakes, fires, explosions, and floods capable of affecting the operation of safety-critical systems.
The instruction sets specific radiation criteria. For example, for permanent staff premises, the threshold is 10 µSv/h for "Emergency Preparedness" mode and 600 µSv/h for "Emergency State." For the NPP site and the sanitary protection zone, these values are 2.5 and 200 µSv/h, respectively.
The decision to introduce an emergency mode is made by the head of the operating organization, or, if contact with them is impossible, by the plant shift supervisor. The initial message must include data on the power unit, time and causes of the incident, radiation situation, potential threat to people and the environment, and necessary emergency assistance.
From the moment the mode is declared, information on the radiation situation and measures taken must be transmitted to relevant departments every 12 hours. Plant personnel must receive information about the situation at least once a day.
In addition, emergency headquarters and emergency response teams must operate at the NPP, as well as a standing commission for preventing and eliminating the consequences of radiation accidents. The instruction provides for regular emergency drills: site-wide exercises involving the emergency team must be held at least once a year.
