The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has updated its online eSARIS tool to help countries strengthen nuclear and radiation safety.
eSARIS, the Self-Assessment of Regulatory Infrastructure for Safety, helps improve national nuclear regulations. This online tool supports countries in reviewing their legal and regulatory frameworks to align with the IAEA safety standards.
IAEA Control of Sources Unit head Ronald Pacheco said: “The updated software enables regulatory authorities to perform a quality review.
“They can evaluate the comprehensiveness and completeness of their responses before conducting an analysis against the IAEA safety standards for drawing recommendations for further improvement.”
The IAEA has revamped the eSARIS tool based on feedback from nuclear and radiation safety regulators. The question sets have been streamlined, reducing the time needed to complete the questionnaire.
A new, user-friendly interface and detailed guidance will help regulators provide comprehensive answers and optimise the tool for effective evaluation of their safety infrastructure.
eSARIS includes four key components to support comprehensive self-assessments.
These help countries prepare for IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) missions, evaluate compliance with safety standards on occupational exposure, assess regulations against relevant IAEA safety standards, and review the safety infrastructure for nuclear power programmes using the Integrated Review of Infrastructure for Safety (IRIS) tool.
IAEA safety standards offer a framework of principles, requirements, and guidance to ensure nuclear and radiation safety.
Reflecting a broad international consensus, these standards are designed to serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.
The updated eSARIS questionnaire now aligns closely with the IRRS guidelines, helping countries prepare more effectively for IRRS missions and ensuring more productive outcomes.
Egyptian nuclear and radiological regulatory authority vice chair and Egypt’s IRRS mission national coordinator Usama Seddik said: “The updated eSARIS platform has been instrumental in enhancing our regulatory self-assessment, enabling internal coordination and ensuring compliance with the IAEA safety standards.
“We are confident that with the support of eSARIS we will host a successful IRRS mission,”
Recently, the IAEA unveiled its new Regulatory Infrastructure Development Project for Asia and the Pacific to enhance radiation safety and nuclear security in the region.
