Ukrainian nuclear utility Energoatom announced new restrictive measures on 25 March after the Ukraine cabinet on 18 March placed all four nuclear power plant satellite cities under strict quarantine.
The city councils of Energodar (Zaporozhye NPP), Varash (Rovno NPP), Yuzhnoukrainsk (South Ukraine NPP) and Netishyn (Khmelnitsky NPP) have restricted entry of unauthorised persons, with local police and State Emergency Service setting up control posts.
Energoatom said that, due to the complex epidemiological situation caused by the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus by contact, critical personnel had been identified and transferred to a special work schedule.
Energoatom has established a headquarters to coordinate quarantine, preventive and anti-epidemic activities to control the spread of coronavirus among employees and to interact with local governments.
During the quarantine period, the operational staff of the Ukrainian nuclear power plants have been isolated, with critical groups housed in separate rooms of hotel complexes in nearby cities.
Where necessary disinfection and medical monitoring activities are in place, and social conditions have been created for living, eating and rest.
“During the quarantine period, optimised work schedules and isolated passage to and from workplaces without contact with other personnel have been developed for this category of personnel, and their transportation to the site is carried out using a separate route,” Energoatom said.
Energoatom said plant operators are provided with personal protective equipment, and permanent medical monitoring of their health at workplaces and in isolation places has been organised.
Measures have been taken to minimise critical staff contact. Employees not involved in technological processes are working remotely. All meetings have been replaced by caller, web and skype conferences and foreign business trips and business trips within the country are banned.
Energoatom operates 15 reactors at four nulcear power plant sites in Ukraine. Nulcear energy accounts for more than half of Ukraine's electricity production.
Photo: Temperature checks at Ukraine's nuclear plants (Credit: Energoatom)
