Application of the Integrated Management System for Safety and Aging Management at TRIGA Research Reactor at LENA (Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Energy) – University of Pavia (Italy)

The Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Energy (“LENA”) is an Interdepartmental Research Centre of the University of Pavia, which operates a 250 kW TRIGA Mark II Research Nuclear Reactor. The Centre itself carries out research and training activities providing services both for private enterprises and public institutions. Aiming at continuous improvement of the reactor management and, in order to continuously grant reactor safety operations and the satisfaction of all stakeholder’s (Regulators, Civil society, Population, Users & Customers) requirements, in 2008 LENA decided to implement an Integrated Management System (IMS). In 2010, this decision led to the ISO 9001:2008 certification of LENA for the operation of the reactor. In addition, through this systematic and graded approach, also the management aspects of safety (i.e. Nuclear Safety, Occupational Health and protection of the people, workers and environment), security, efficiency and effectiveness are satisfied. That means that trough the application of the IMS, LENA can monitor and manage also the aspect related to the reactor safety operations and maintenance, included those related to the ageing management. It is interesting to point out how the IMS encompasses a wide range of processes and tools for the management of safety aspects and how their utilization revealed an improvement in safety operations, during the last few years.