About measures taken by foreign regulators to provide stable functioning in conditions of the pandemic progression

The major areas, the regulators make special focus on when planning and implementing activities in the prevailing conditions, are listed below:

- creation of an emergency response team and a formal action plan in case of an emergency situation. Most of regulators have created internal emergency teams in their organizations to assess the efficiency of the regulator functioning in conditions of the emergency situation, to prepare recommendations on transformation of the activity, communication development, as well as independent assessment of safety at the facilities of a licensee. Moreover, the aforesaid teams have considered an issue about interchangeability of critically important personnel having special competencies, as well as powers to make regulatory decisions; the appropriate recommendations on interchangeability have been developed.

- staffing. Any and all regulators emphasize strict observance of the sanitary-hygienic standards and rules, namely: taking quarantine measures for certain persons, use of individual protection equipment, keeping distance at work places including the necessity to transfer at least 15%-30% of employees to work remotely, retaining functioning of critically important functions of the regulatory body. Scenarios are considered for long-term absence of a considerable number of employees at the work place (at most 10-15 % of the number of all the staff) or a short-term absence of a considerable number of employees (50 % and more), as well as compensating measures aimed at provision of a stable functioning under any scenario. Effect of potential stress shall also be considered as well as the increased work load on certain employees, on their ability to provide high-quality and timely implementation of works.

- information security. Most participants of the meeting notices the importance of information security in conditions of a remote work, when an organization uses various communication platforms and opens remote access to data bases for a wide range of users, including a licensee. Information encryption and authorized access to the classified information are the major tools to provide information security.

- remote work of employees and interaction with a licensee in the format of video conferences. Most participants expressed their preparedness to transfer their employees to work remotely ensuring this process both at the organizational and technical levels. It was noticed that an extensive use of various digital systems together with the efficient management provide for stable remote work of personnel involved in regulatory documents development, safety review, issuance of permit documents, information exchange with a licensee.

- internal communication. The SSC participants mentioned, that transfer to the remote work demanded creation of communication platforms to maintain internal communication in conditions of a remote work, and also to ensure efficient interaction with a licensee. Nevertheless, the further personnel adapting to participation in meetings in the format of video conferences is needed.

- inspection activity. Most of the participants noted the reduction of a total number of inspections from the beginning of the pandemic progression for the purposes of minimization of travelling and physical contacts. At the same time, the number of remote inspections has increased, namely: inspectors' interactions with a licensee in the format of video conferences, while the most important inspections, which envisage inspector physical presence at the facility, were shifted to the later terms (6-12 months). Inspection planning depends on the situation progression. Some regulators introduce amendments to the procedure of regulator's inspections.

- equipment maintenance/refueling at the licensee facilities. The participants emphasized certain problems which a licensee faces in the process of implementation of works on timely maintenance of equipment and nuclear refueling. This is due to availability on the site of appropriately qualified personnel for implementation of certain kinds of works. Actual terms for such works performance can be prolongated, and the regulator shall ensure possibility for prolongation of terms envisaged for such works implmentation.

Specifically the participants noticed the positive dynamics in vaccination against Сovid-19 in their countries and expressed hope for the quick end of the pandemic.

The IAEA Academic Secretary, Mr. D. Delattre, appealed for the SSC participants to continue to send to the IAEA the updated information on the national experience in nuclear safety regulation in conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic,